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NOTE: The World Future Fund strongly endorses the ideas in this
letter. However, we should note that this letter was not a project of
ours, and we have no connection to its authors. We are reproducing it here
because of its importance to the debate over renewable energy.
OPEN LETTER TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
IN DEFENSE OF MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY FUNDING
BY TOP FORMER U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY LEADERS
June 3,1999
Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Senator Pete Dominici (R-NM)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO))
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Congressman C.W. Young (R-FL)
Congressman David Obey (D-WI)
Congressman Ron Packard (R-CA)
Congressman Peter Visclosky (D-IN)
Congressman James R. Walsh (R-NY)
Congressman Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Dear Members of Congress,
We seek your support for the Department of Energy’s FY2000 budget request for
renewable energy and energy efficiency and the corresponding funding levels
proposed to Senator Domenici by Senators Jeffords, Allard Bingaman and Roth, as
well as 50 of their Colleagues. Current conflicts in the Middle East and the Balkans and our stressed defense
capability only reinforce our earlier concerns that our increasing dependence on
imported oil has serious implications for national and energy security. Wars and
terrorism strongly highlight the benefits of obtaining domestic, dispersed
renewable energy systems and energy efficiency.
While the sources of oil imports are currently diversified, the underlying
threat to our national and energy security is defined by our, and the rest of
the world’s growing dependence on imports from the volatile Middle East. This
dependence does not bode well for the assured and continuous flow of
energy. Since liquid fuel is one of the primary energy sources driving the world’s
economy, it is essential that we reverse our relentlessly increasing dependence
on Mid East sources.
Fortunately, the United States has pioneered the development of renewable energy
and energy-efficient technologies. They have served our nation well, and
strengthened its leadership position in the world.
Now is clearly the time to increase our coverage under this invaluable insurance
policy for our security -- i.e., the availability of renewable resources and
improvements in energy efficiency. Such a commitment will not only enhance
national and energy security, but also bring with it global leadership,
environmental and economic benefits, new industries, and high quality jobs.
This is the position taken by 54 U.S. Senators. We recommend this position to
you, as do the majority of America’s citizens – attached are the results of
a recent poll on this issue.
Thank you for your attention to an issue of vital importance to the security of
America.
Sincerely yours,
General Lee Butler, USAAF (Rep)
Former Commander, Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Planner, Desert Storm
Robert C. McFarlane
Former National Security Advisor
to President Ronald Reagan
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN (Rep)
Former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
R. James Woolsey
Former Director of Central Intelligence
CC:
Majority Leader Trent Lott
Minority Leader Tom Daschle
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt
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