Energy Policy and Legislation

Defenders of Wildlife is actively engaging Congress in support of environmentally sound, smart and wildlife friendly energy policies.

We are a leader in the ongoing battle to support solutions to:

  • offset oil’s stranglehold on Americans and their wallets
  • protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from Big Oil
  • safeguard our coasts from offshore drilling prospects
  • ensure that renewable energy sources are a substantial part of our energy future

Why Drilling Is Not A Solution

Oil Truths

Get answers to frequently asked questions about energy.

Everyone is affected by the recent rise in gas prices, which translates to pain at the pump and concerns over heating our homes in the winter. But for eight years we have watched as the President tripled the number of oil leases on public lands and it hasn’t helped gas prices one bit. It’s only made it clear that more drilling won’t mean a drop at the pump. Unfortunately, some members of Congress blinded by oil contributions and focused on winning political points are insisting that our energy future has to include the sacrifice of our last protected areas to oil development. That’s just not so:

Fact sheet:   Addressing High Gas Prices

What Congress Needs to Do

Americans are hurting at the pump as oil prices remain high and Big oil continues to rake in record profits. Big Oil would have us believe that we have to sacrifice our last protected areas to drilling in response. But that’s a “rigged” “platform” if ever there was one. In reality, there are faster, cheaper, better ways to address high gas prices – none of which involve furthering American’s dependence on oil. And unlike drilling, none of these options involve polluting our waters, or threatening our coastal economies, fisheries or wildlife.

Fact sheet:  Real Energy Solutions

Why the Outer Continental Shelf is Important

Defenders of Wildlife is working to maintain the congressional moratorium on new offshore drilling that protects the shores along the East Coast, West coast, and Southwest Florida. We also advocate the protection of Bristol Bay and the Polar Bear Seas from offshore drilling. Read a May 1, 2008 letter in which Defenders and other conservation groups detail our opposition to oil and gas exploration in Bristol Bay.

It’s important to remember that off shore drilling is a dirty, polluting business that puts our coastal tourism and fishing industries --- not to mention vital wildlife habitats--- in danger of permanent damage.

Fact sheet:  Impacts of Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Drilling

Why the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is Important

The wildest place left in America, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge – often called the "American Serengeti" – is home to caribou, muskoxen, arctic foxes, wolverines, grizzlies, and snow geese, all of which depend on this fragile, unique ecosystem for survival.

More about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge >>

Renewable Energy and Wildlife Habitat Considerations

Defenders of Wildlife strongly supports expanded development of renewable sources of energy. Doing so will help reduce emission of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change.

  • Generating power using wind, solar and other renewable resources will reduce the need for coal-fired and nuclear power plants, which will improve air quality and reduce the dangers associated with nuclear power and radioactive waste.
  • Expansion of renewable energy resources in the U.S. will also help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and, in turn, our dependence on oil exporting nations.

Examining the Impacts of Renewable Energy

While there are many advantages to expanding the use of renewable resources to generate heat electricity and replace gasoline as automotive fuel, we also recognize that even clean, renewable energy can have environmental impacts.

These impacts can take the form of land requirements for growing biomass energy or siting wind farms, the construction of new facilities and roads, and other issues associated with the production and transmission of renewable energy.

Defenders has taken a closer look at three types of renewable energy: biomass, wind and geothermal, and has issued recommendations for development of these resources in a manner that reduces adverse impacts on wildlife habitat and the environment.

More about Renewable Energy >>