Energy Independence

Louisiana has long been a leader in domestic energy production, and has much to offer our nation as we confront our current supply shortage. That is why Senator Landrieu led efforts to expand the reach of Louisiana’s oil and gas industry to move the nation towards independence from foreign oil and reduce the cost of gasoline.

In 2006, she authored legislation that opened 8.3 million acres of the Gulf Coast for drilling – the first time in 25 years that portions of the outer continental shelf were opened to energy exploration. The Times-Picayune reported that Landrieu ''brought enough Democrats along to get the bill passed easily'' and Republican lawmakers praised her for her efforts on the measure.

Senator Landrieu is also working to make sure Louisiana is on the forefront of alternative energy development. She has led efforts to use sugar byproducts as an alternative energy source, she co-sponsored legislation to lower the cost of clean energy projects, and she has worked to promote nuclear energy.

In 2008, Senator Landrieu and the ''Gang of 20,'' a group of ten Democrats and ten Republicans, announced a bipartisan plan to increase domestic energy production, strengthen conservation methods and move the country towards energy independence. The legislation would allow opening nearly 120 million new acres in the U.S. to oil and gas production while investing in alternative sources.