Jewish Perspectives on Energy
Statement on Energy Policy and National Security Adopted by the COEJL Board of Trustees on November 5, 2001

Eliminating American dependence upon Middle Eastern oil is a necessary and urgent strategy in the War on Terrorism. Furthermore, energy conservation is vital to the fulfillment of our moral obligations to protect the environment and public health and to provide for future generations.

There are two ways to reduce oil dependence: increase domestic supply, and decrease demand. Because of very limited domestic reserves — the U.S. has only 3% of proven world oil reserves — our only effective option is to reduce demand and therefore dependence on oil from all sources.

Therefore, energy conservation and the development of new fuels and technologies must now rise to the highest level of priority for the U.S. Congress and Administration and the American people. Both the government and every citizen can and should take action to help conserve energy and reduce our reliance on oil.

A Jewish organization encourages fuel conservation with a message that combines faith and humor.

Energy policy has far-reaching impacts. Therefore, it must be developed through a deliberative process and not as a rushed reaction to the events of September 11. We call on Congress to adopt an energy security plan with the following core elements:

• A significant increase in vehicle fuel economy standards for all vehicles.
• An expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to two billion barrels;
• Increasing funding for inter-city rail and metropolitan mass transit;
• Aggressive support for the development and production of alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles; and
• Aggressive support for the development and incentives for the use of non-nuclear, clean, and decentralized sources of electricity.

A plan should not include opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or other environmentally sensitive areas to oil or gas exploration or drilling. Such drilling will not provide oil for at least seven years, and even then would provide a tiny fraction of the oil that could be saved through conservation.

Industry has a vital role to play as well. We call on the automobile industry to work to bring super-efficient and alternative fuel vehicles to market as quickly as possible, and actively promote such vehicles for purchase by the American public. Given our national security needs, the automobile and petroleum industries should work with Congress to develop policies that will lead to a rapid and successful transition to more fuel efficient vehicles.