Comprehensive Energy Reform Needed Now

April 23, 2009

Reform Institute Initiates Public-Private Sector Dialogue at National Energy Symposium

WASHINGTON, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consensus themes that emerged from an April 21 National Energy Symposium offer important guidance as Congress debates major climate and energy legislation. The non-partisan Reform Institute convened over 45 corporate executives, policymakers and industry experts at Reforming American Energy: Encouraging Innovation, Producing Solutions to openly discuss our nation's energy, environmental and economic challenges.

"A reliable, sustainable and reasonably priced energy supply is critical to the competitiveness of the U.S. economy and our global standing," said Reform Institute Chairman Paul Bateman. "This symposium highlighted that cost-effective, energy efficient and climate friendly technologies being developed by the private sector will play a major role in enhancing U.S. energy resilience."

Three consensus themes emerged from the symposium's discussions:

    --  President Obama should make reducing reliance on foreign energy a top
        national security, economic, and environmental priority;
    --  Successful energy reform must balance economic prosperity and
        environmental progress;
    --  The are no "silver bullets" and piece meal approaches to
        energy policy will fall short; comprehensive energy reform fueled by
        collaboration and bipartisan leadership is the only viable approach.

"Innovations that advance energy efficiency and conservation as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as the smart grid, plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, and alternative sources of energy are essential to a future U.S. energy regime that is resilient and sustainable," said Symposium Chair Ken Nahigian of Nahigian Strategies, LLC. "In the interim, key resources such as domestic natural gas and nuclear energy will play a key role in bridging the gap to that future while contributing to economic growth. By placing policy above politics we can achieve solutions that will power our future."

"The Reform Institute is committed to comprehensive energy reform that strengthens U.S. resilience," according to Cecilia Martinez, Executive Director of the Reform Institute. "This symposium will be the first step towards advancing innovation, collaboration, and leadership in U.S. energy policy."

Event keynotes included U.S. Senators John McCain (AZ) and Lisa Murkowski (AK), and Dr. Doug Holtz-Eakin. The symposium will air on CleanSkies.TV. Links to event video, transcripts and other related information will be available soon at www.reforminstitute.org. A forthcoming report from the Reform Institute will examine issues highlighted at the forum.

The Reform Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit educational organization working to strengthen the foundations of our democracy and build a resilient society. The Institute formulates and advocates valuable, solutions-based reforms in vital areas of public policy, including homeland and national security, energy and environmental progress, economic opportunity and competitiveness, immigration policy, and governance and election reform. Visit our website at www.reforminstitute.org.

SOURCE The Reform Institute