Production in the United States this is good news for the us economy is trades and i am quoting you here, combined with the right policies. When you make that statement, are you referring to tax policies, energy policies, a combination of all of that . If you could go into that i would be curious. Very fortunate because we have oil, gas, Renewable Energy sourceand business here. By improvement of the technology you look more and more oil and gas, existing resources if the right incentives are provided to the industry. Number 2, i believe, huge potential to make more use of urban energies, solar and wind especially. I was able to see support for Renewable Energy policies. The production tax credit. Exactly. Third, very important, the Independence Energy dependence and Energy Dependence is based on two factors, one is encasing production and seconds, keeping consumption at a certain level and not to waste Energy Efficiency so i imagine Domestic Energy policies, in addition to supplyside policies, increased oil and gas we must put emphasis on using Energy Efficiently so that we dont waste energy but the same as productivity from the system. It is not going in the right direction with lots of resources but domestic policies need to have them. Let me ask you a question specific to the arctic. I focus a lot on these spaces, not just the us arctic but the arctic broader. Last year i had the opportunity to visit hammerfest in norway, significant natural gas is processed and shipped to europe. In russia, what we are seeing elsewhere as they are exporting across the world including china, what role do you see the Energy Resources from the arctic whether it be oil, gas, not just looking at the United States, the bigger Energy Picture specifically coming from arctic northern countries. Thank you, the deficit of oil and gas across the world. The one challenge, and a lot of shame oil. May pose on two issues. Moving from that oil and gas, the geological survey, and the anwar area, we see very important effectiveness, and underutilized substantially. The possibility of transporting it in an easy way. This is a different advantage. The challenge is in terms of oil again, economic effectiveness and the current price, difficult to believe the success of Oil Production, in that region unless we see some surprise in the markets. And the production from that, this would be good news with employment in alaska. And the oil, the infrastructure here, the main bottleneck is stature building the pipelines, significant marketing chances in asia. Bringing to the point i said a few minutes ago, today china is moving in the direction of gas, importing a lot to increase, basically, i see that there is a lot of opportunity in china and japan. I often visit japan and the japanese government, they are thankful to you after the fukushima incidence, very difficult, they would never forget the gesture from your government. I see from this point of view significant chances to gas hungry. Thank you. Senator cantwell. On that point chair would note i suggested to her many times that should be a good focus on natural gas as opposed to more recent discussion, china being a huge Market Opportunity for the future with a shift in policy thugh blue sky, being the largest Market Opportunity for the us, front do you think we need to continue to focus on here that would help us looking at asia more as a market and the us leadership with the Energy Efficiency side and the Nuclear Policy side. Energy efficiency in the context of saving so much, and move forward, what we achieved in the region to some of the technologies used in other countries. One of our northwest companies provides metered energy in south africa so they could buy the power it takes to turn the lights on when kids come home from school. Energy efficiency is making our businesses competitive and reaching the marketplace. What else do we need to be doing to focus on Energy Efficiency and other export policies on the clean side . Thank you very much. First of all, the us becoming an exporter to china and asia, i imagine china, i should imagine very important in the region and growing strongly, india is very important because their Economic Growth is very strong and they have a very wise energy policy. And they use gas at a minimum level. And 25 . And other factors, a big gap with them and both of them are facing major challenges in environment, namely collusion in the cities, an issue in many countries and others a reason for social unrest. One solution is replacing coal by natural gas and markets, you see the us is coming strongly as an exporter, good news for everybody. Almost everybody except for the tradition pipeline exporters in europe and. And the major established exporters and the hand of european stronger in terms of negotiations with the pipeline exporters with new contracts. And one bcm, us gas, the Effective Date can import gas come of the latest strong card in their hands. Coming to china. Can you elaborate on the resins . Arent they trying to play in this marketplace . Yes. The russian government is a result of the us boom, the russian government is stronger when it comes to the contract and negotiations with european customers. Of the european customers negotiate and try to get it done, if they say no there is an option. In the district, there was only one shop, and this other shop opened, which one is cheaper with better conditions, energy and maybe the security and foreign policy, providing an attempt to europeans, the russian gas and this is very important in terms of security and competitiveness of the gas and the contracts in europe. Many European Countries were successful, bringing the price of gas down. China and india, us gas, which amount of lng, i am sure asia, the primary destination for us energy and there is a huge opportunity to make money for the us and those countries to diversify the system and make it part of the united system and more flexible and the europeans, a sourcof imports, minimizing the economic risks. I thank you for elaborating what some people may not fully understand about what resin issues are as relates to europe and us and why these things are so important, people in the administration in conflict and everything else. I think you for that and i will submit other things for the record. I went to thank my colleague and welcome her, i failed to do that in my opening remarks, i will turn my portion over to her in the next round and let them continue on my behalf and thank you for your testimony, i appreciate senator smith joining our committee along with returning colleagues, a Record Number of women on the committee, that is a good thing. Lets go to senator cassidy. Great testimony. I am intrigued by the electrification of transportation, if you will. Yesterday the ceo of Fiat Chrysler was quoted saying i dont know of a business selling electric vehicles unless at a high end of the spectrum. This was made at the detroit auto show. And a bullish statement in a relatively short time, transitioning to primarily or almost equally electric car marketplace. Your thoughts . Electric cars will grow, numbers show from now the biggest chunk of what we are running existing in a traditional car but directly cars we grow, in some regions in europe, subsidy for electric cars. In china, lots of support for electric cars, plus very generous subsidies in some countries, electric cars are increasing. Having said this, some people say electric cars increase but at the same time, there is a need for oil. How does it combine . The cars are not the biggest part of the oil growth. Oil demand growth today driven by trucks, jets, ships and most importantly, chemical industry. A lot of electric cars coming into markets, we still see there is a need for new Oil Production. There has been a move afoot to transition diesel vehicles, boats or trucks to natural gas powered vehicles. Do you see that impacting what you just said, or will oil continue to dominate . Oil will dominate but as long as the cost of gas remains low or moderate, especiay in the long haul, a chance of supposition of oil by natural gas and not only protract but for the ships. A big opportunity made specific projections regarding percentage of electric vehicles. Have you done a similar analysis what will be the rate of conversion of longhaul vehicles or barges for tow boats to natural gas . They will increase at least three times compared to today but the big portion will be coming from oil products. I dont have it in your testimony, speaking of the sustained model or Something Like that, i gather that would be compatible with low carbon mandate, the degree to which we achieved that. The conversion of natural gas or nuclear, and deployment of renewables. We have different scenarios, the current policies, where do we go, and sustainable, keeping a close eye out with regard to climate change. And all of them natural gas does increase, natural gas and closing its role in all of them. We start growing very strongly especially with the sustained one, especially solar and wind and whether or not we can use call in a cleaner way especially in the context of Carbon Capture storage. This is for me an extremely Critical Technology and an area i imagine our ministerial meeting run a ministerial session on Carbon Capture. Continuing on natural gas a renewables, your current policy and sustained policy, what is the relative growth of renewables, not only relative growth but by 2040 what is the percentage of the International Energy mix sold by renewables or natural gas . The share of natural gas, 20 , the volume is going to increase. In terms of generation it will grow substantially the way it exists, mainly from solar and wind but coal will be a significant loser unless we can make use of Carbon Capture storage technologies. Onis nlear power, Nuclear Power is a technology which can produce electricity emissions but depending on the policies of governments whether they would like to see a more Important Role. I yield back. Senator smith. I must say is a former resident of alaska and a person who worked on the pipeline when it was first constructed this has always been a matter of great interest to me so very pleased to be here. To have a chance to visit with you, i am struck by your conversation about the transformation we are seeing about advancing renewables and Energy Efficiency. In minnesota in my state this has been a focus of our energy policy, bipartisan focus and we get 21 of our energy for renewables and are on our way to hitting 25 which could be even higher and this means jobs for minnesota, 57,000 Clean Energy Jobs in minnesota. I think a lot about the benefits of this strategy. Also my business background has taught me diversification contributes to Risk Management and security so im interested to hear you talk about how more affordable renewables and Energy Efficiency contributes to our Overall Energy security which is the primary focus of the iea. Huge oil, gas and renewable sources, very important we make the most out of it in a costeffective manner, secured energy and sustainable manner. It is important, and we see a growing chance of the us making more use of Renewable Energies as costs are coming down and as madam chair mentioned after tax reform we see support for renewables are still in there. One period we need in my view to Pay Attention to is efficiency. When we say the us will soon not need to import any oil this is for two reasons, one is a Shale Oil Boom is extremely important and a big sector story of the us government, production will go and the second is in my view the tougher standas in the United States, and other on this at this level. If it were not for efficient standards using more oil at home, and oil or gas, and diverse mix for the united sector, stronger and resilient. How do you see how this where we are headed in terms of cost reductions for renewables . Most of it was may not need any more subsidy. Other sources of energy, 10 or 15 years ago in order to compete with natural gas, coal and others, get a lot of subsidies and in five years or so, most countries especially solar and onshore wind, subsidies, maybe for offshore wind we need a longer time horizon but the main message is they are becoming cheaper, the mainstream fuel in many countries. Thank you, madam chair. Thank you, senator smith. I have so many things, thank you. A couple years ago we reversed a 40year policy we had in the United States that band the export of oil. We were successful in lifting at december 2015 and there was speculation at the time that not much would change in terms of the volume of oil that is exported from the United States due to the price of oil and the need for Infrastructure Improvement and Global Supply actors. We havent necessarily seen that, the price impact, or supply shortages some claimed. Can you discuss how the export of us oil has changed the World Dynamic . You referenced earlier in response to senator cantwell, how or lng the United States has put out there on the Global Market how that has impacted europe, russia, can you speak to the role we are playing in the World Energy Markets the we are able to export . Of course, madam chair. December 2015, a decision after Global Energy securities and positive contribution, in 2016, a year where the oil industry had a difficult year because the low oil prices we have seen, the exports were under 600,000 a day. We saw an increase in exports, and in certain weeks, it is significant contribution, the important area here is not only the size but quality of the oil is important that you are exporting, light and sweet quality which is in demand and can be used in many countries again, one of the buyers is china here today. Years from now, 600, 000 per day with increasing Oil Production and oil markets, a us crude oil export with Important Role even though compared to natural gas, it is significant and important contribution but in terms of size, good quality. When you think about where we had been historically with world conflict that comes about because of virtual advantage some nations have when it comes to energy resource, whether it is the middle east, other parts of the world, you have given us a new view of where we are going with ergy and energy worldwide, all that is coming with regards to renewable, this means countries that might not have fossil fuels at their disposal have other ways that they too can achieve their own level of energy production. When we about the potential hotspots for conflict that come about over energy, we had presentations in this committee in the years i have served on the committee and always seems to have been focused around who has the capacity when it comes to those sources of fossil fuels. Do you see this changing now that the broader world Energy Portfolio is a greater mix whether it is what you are saying, china is looking to with regards to nuclear, the price competitiveness. Energy hotspots. Important issue if i may say so. There are two important changes happening in terms of energy. One of them is the coming of renewals. It is important. For some countries more important than the others, but if i may, we are using mainly for Electricity Generation, but for transportation, for home heating, we still use a lot of gas, natural gas in some countries, coal, some countries electricity and others. The renewable is changing the operations of energy in a big weight and is that something i would not agree. It makes a small dent but it is not going to change the job potentials of energy which is oil and gas currently. The second change on the Job Opportunities of energy is coming from the United States. The u. S. Is a major oil and gas country, being a major exporter changes thinking, changes a lot of issues. Let me give you one example. Several years ago United States was importing a lot of oil from middle east. Very soon, perhaps nowadays it is zero, close to zero. This is something very important. Another thing u. S. Is competing with russia for european gas markets u. S. Todays exporting gas to poland, for example, where russia is that change the dynamics significantly. From u. S. Perspective i am sure secretary tillerson in the negotiations with his counterparts the city on the chair much more comfortably with a lot of oil and gas potential. Having said that, if i have to pin point, in terms of all gassed it is the following. Many countries in the middle east, also some major European Countries, their economies are single productive economies, oil, in some case gas. When the price of these commodities go down, oil as we just discussed wh senator cassidy, in the very future if the electric cars one day become a major, major part of transportation, they may suffer the economics and they are not prepared for that. Their entire economic socialite is based on oil revenues. This is special today when the oil prices we expect more and more volatile and Technology May make big surprises. Therefore, at the International Energy agency refocus her outlook on these vulnerabilities of these countries and if you, madam chair, i would be happy to report to you which countries, which one, what measures can be taken there. Once again it is been redefined as result of the development in the United States, big times but also introduction of real energies in some countries. Very interesting. Thank you for that. Senator smith. Thank you, madam chair. Dr. Birol, i was really interested in the information in your report about how Global Energy usese expt to increase by, i think its 30 by 2040, which is the equivalent of adding another china and india to global demand. And also i remember reading that yet theyre still significant portions of the world where people dont have access to electricity at all. Theres this dramatic effect, the economy in terms of where people are. Id like to hear your views dichotomy what countries can do to take advantage of this growth and demand. From a competitors perspective, positioned themselves and their economies, this relates to what you were just talking about, what countries can do to position themselves in their economies so that literally the trillions of dollars that will be invested, technology, countries can be wellpositioned to be competitive in that arena. Thank you very much work when we look at the investments in the next years to come, we see Huge Investment opportunities, especially Electricity Generation and transmission and distribution. Asian and Subsaharan Africa are key areas for opportunities. And here of course implied u. S. Companies can play very Important Role, both in termsf building power plants, providing capital, and also providing leadership in those countries. Having said that, those countries, especially in china, india and african countries, they have their own policies, their own targets. And when i look at those policies, they are geared to having energy at the lowest possible cost. Keeping an eye on the environment, and also diversification of the energies as you rightly can imagine. I think those countries would welcome Investment Opportunities from u. S. And elsewhere if the investments are in line with their three goals, namely, the United Security, affordability of energy and at the same time the production. In many u. S. Companies, they are working in those countries. Bu t main forrgy projes are huge across the world, huge infrastructure needs, especially in asia and africa. What about this question of research and technology and innovation . And how do you see that in terms of how we can encourage that kind of innovation and research on new technologies . We made an analysis of how much the governments and the private sector is putting money in the research and development in the new technologies. To be honest with you, despite all this discussion, rhetoric come in the last five years in real terms there was no, almost no increase in the r d and technology across the world. What is surprising also is, were talking about thinking about r d, research and development in clean energy. I personally thought the bulk of this is coming from the private sector and less from the governments. But it showed just opposite. The bulk of r d for Clean Energy Comes from the governments, 80 , and 20 come from the private sector. So there is a need for private sector, more part of the game to push the Clean Energy Technologies for energy reat. Ncy. [inaudible conversations] let me follow up on that to make sure i understood. Your statement that the r d in clean Energy Around the world, the vast majority of the funding, 80 , come from government, 20 industry. Thats worldwide. What about here in the United States . Is that break against about the same, about 80 20, that were not seeing the r d in Clean Technology development . I need to contact you but the worst part was to make it was surprising. I thought when i read the intel news of the Business Leaders and so on, i thought it was the biggest part was coming from the industry and less from the public. But public was the main driver of the r d in the United States. Thats very interesting. If you would otherwise and particularly on the u. S. Side id be curious to know about that because of that is, thats not what typically we would think. You have referenced Energy Security many times here. We think about the security that comes with abundance of supply and how we can provide security that way. You have also referenced the electrification that we are seeing around the wor. You highlight in your testimony the increasing digitalization of power systems, and again, that can assist with levels of efficiency that i think is important, but i think we also recognize that with these opportunities they can bring challenges, certainly when it comes to the issue of cybersecurity. You havent really mentioned the role that that plays with these interconnected energy systems. Can you speak a little bit as to how you think digitalization provides levels of benefits but also vulnerabilities . In fact, its the area we just started to work, madam chair. Very important, because digitization energy are becoming more and more interwoven. The former u. S. Government official who is at the joint organization was leading that work. What we have seen is a digitalization provides a lot of benefits by increasing the efficiency of our systems, we save a lot of money. We save a lot of activity. And we need to build for example, less power plants that otherwise would be needed as result of the digitalization. We are increasing our power system. This is very good and this is something that will continue. It would help us to make him for example, the most out of the Renewable Energies as well. I mentioned there is a mismatch between when sun and wind is available and when the sun and wind is the highest. We have to address this mismatch as well. Now, but this is very good that our energy system, our Economic System is becoming more and more digital, more and more interconnected to different devices. But this also raises the issue of cybersecurity, the surface is becoming much bigger in terms of the unexpected exception so it is an area where we are working with our governments how we can increase the resilience of our Electrical Systems in order to minimize such attacks. What kind of measures need to be taken in order to minimize the undeserved attacks in terms of making our systems more vulnerable. This is a serious issue with the electrification and the position of our systems. It is something that we focus a lot on here, because as we work to enhance our systems and truly make them more efficient, make the more cost competitive. You realize that you are also building and another level of vulnerability, if you will. One more area of vulnerability i want to bring up, and i speak to a live here in this committee. Some years ago when we were more reliant on other nations for our sources of oil, we talked about that vulnerability and it was not only energy vulnerability, but only barely of a security perspective, National Security perspective. As you pointed out, we are in a much better situation now with regards to oil and natural gas, and the undisputed position that you now refer to around the world coming from the United States. But there is another area where i see a growing vulnerability on others, and that is as it relates to our Critical Minerals and our resources. The resources that we need to help build out, whether it is wind turbines, whether its the lithium for the lithium ion batteries, the reality, whether its lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, these are what will allow us to help build out when we build up the capacity of electrification, moving to electric vehicles. We have to have resources. So i view that as a bottleneck, a potential bottleneck that will allow us to make this transition or these, moved to these other areas you have refenced. You refer to them as upheavals with what were seeing as renewables. Can you speak to that aspect of vulnerability and where you see the direction of the trend . Another excellent point, madam chair, if i may say so. Under tradition of fuel sources, oil and gas, the Energy Security is more or less understood and mechanisms are there for oil and gas. We are working many, many years and especially natural gas, several meetings in japan. We asked Prime Minister abe to look at the security issue which were doing, and electricity security i mentioned very important, cybersecurity we are working on that. Yet another security issue indirectly but also very important terms of energy is the Raw Materials for the new technologies. This goes from aluminum to copper, copper to lithium, and it happens that, again, like the issue of the tradition of sources several years ago, these are only in a few number of countries. Again here, concentration of the resources, some of them are in latin america, some of the american countries, chile, peru, bolivia but china happens to be a country with a lot of reserves in the context. So we talk about that clear technologies. This is very good, good for the vibrant, good for Domestic Production of one has to go one step further to think about where those materials will come from. And what kind of security mechanisms we can develop in order to address it some undesired problems arise, as the Raw Materials of those technologies are only in a few number of countries. Its very important. Does iea not concentrate necessarily, but do you factor in these vulnerabilities as you look to your world forecast . We mainly look at this in terms of energy sources, oil, gas, standard renewables but these are also important areas. Inky. I appreciate that. Senator smith, further questions . I dont have any further questions. I would like to thank you very much. Thank you very much, dr. Birol, for your comments. This is quite interesting and im very happy to be part of this committee. We are delighted you are part of the committee. Ive got one final question for you, dr. Birol, before we conclude. And again i thank you for your time this morning. I have long maintained that nuclear in this country and part of our Energy Portfolio is significant, important. We have seen the United States, in our role with nuclear, kind of, in my view, slack off in recent years. Weve got one remaining construction project in nuclear, the plant in georgia. But youve indicated in your comments here this morning that china is coming on in a quite considerable and a substantial way. Weve got the traditional nuclear in the Global Marketpl we also have the role of adnced nuclear. And i think were seeing some positive signs coming out recently in terms of these emerging technologies and how they might factor in to the energy marketplace. But can you just share with the committee your view of how nuclear here in the United States factors in in these out years, whether it be traditional nuclear or the advanced nuclear opportunities . Thank you very much, madam chair. I think nuclear is a Technology Worldwide which can provide electricity uninterrupted without a meeting carbon use emissions. But after fukushima it became a challenge in many countries to be a Nuclear Power plants. The challenge is not only that pickets also in the financing part of the equation, to have new Nuclear Power plants. Even some countries like in the United States, electricity demand is low when gas prices are low. The renewables are going to find that getting electricity from nuclear is a challenge. Unless governments dont take any measures. So for the new builds, in my view, it will be very difficult to go with the traditional Nuclear Power plants. Small model reactors. It can provide the opportunity to address the project management risks and the financing problems. So this can be a solution. If i go from, and i believe, Nuclear Country where it is excepted, complain portable for United Security and also for the issues can make a positive contribution. There is one more issue, globally. As i said, you also mention in the u. S. We are building one only Nuclear Power plant. In europe its similar. In japan it is similar. These countries where the main Nuclear Technology exporters until recently. But since i dont maintain Nuclear Power plants they are forgetting how to build it. China and russia are building a lot of Nuclear Power plants and it will not only build Nuclear Power plants at home, but they may will be the countries that are exporting the Nuclear Technology of the countries which is important from injury perspective and also other perspective as well. So we have to look at the nuclear also perhaps from that angle as well, establish new Technology Exporters such as europeans and others are facing strong challenge from china and russia for the other countries to build Nuclear Power plants. When you think about where nuclear has dominated, and again here in the United States in europe, certainly in japan, that reversal in a very, very short order really in terms of the Energy Spectrum worldwide, and now moving that over to china and russia were we had not seen that much of a significant presence. Its really kind of an interesting phenomenon that it is moved as quickly and as, i would say, dramatically as it has in terms of moving the Energy Portfolios around. I wonder whether, and im just going to, talk it off the top of my head here, but but i wondern increased role and presence in russia, in china particularly, will promote or spur the United States to renew its efforts within the nuclear space, or whether we continue to seed and take a backseat. Its not something that i think has been good. I greatly appreciate the role that nuclear plays in providing for, not only a reliable power source, but a clean power source. And i regret that we are losing the skilled workforce, the level of leadership that we played not only from the production perspective but how we then export the technologies and the smart people that come behind them. Do you think that we change, or with low Natural Gas Prices we just continue in the direction that we are . I think natural gas is of course very good. It is cheap. Renewables are also getting cheaper. But in my view we need diversification and nuclear, position of nuclear in u. S. The strong want to keep position is wise policy. I wouldnt let it go but, of course, its up to your government, yourself to proceed policy. But it would be regrettable in my view as United States has been one of the leaders of Nuclear Technology and years and years. To give it up, position, may not be the best way, in my personal view. Do you see europe going back to more nuclear, or is that an irreversible direction . I think in many countries irreversible direction. But i think japan is going bac slowly, Nuclear Power. But the Biggest Development is coming from china and india. More than 90 of Nuclear Power plants coming in the picture lectures will come from china and india and built there, and the russians are building in europe and elsewhere several Nuclear Power plants. By building a lot of Nuclear Power plants that are bringing the cost down and making it cheaper, accessible to emerging countries. So it is in my view and energy issue but maybe not only. One last question. I said my last one would be nuclear but youre prompted another and thats regards to india. You focus a lot of your comments today on the role that china is playing in the World Energy Markets. Does india, with india move towards natural gas, coal or nuclear . Where do you see their Energy Portfolio . I think india chooses a the policy which is all of the technologies, and they are pushing, especially natural gas strongly, and once again to replace coal. But coal is also growing because in india people have no access to elericity in india. Almost 200 Million People have no access. They have to build some how plants from coal but also more a more natural gas, Renewable Energy and nuclear. You are pushing all those fronts. And to be very frank, the Modi Government is pursuing a policy which is very good for the people because in very short period of time, almost 11 years, they are bringing electricity to about 500 Million People. Its a big, big, big achievement and are using gas, coal, renewables all of these technologies. Much more diverse, and i expect the ship of gas will increase and typically in india in the next years to come. Very interesting. I will look forward to learning more from this report that you referenced earlier that will focus on those nations that perhaps have greater vulnerabilities because they are more reliant on a Single Energy resource either for production or for the consumption, and what that means. So its interesting to hear that with india actually is one of those all of the above approaches to energy. I truly appreciate what you have shared with the committee. Its always good, very importt for us to understand what is happening with the Global Energy and the trans out there. As one who is been a strong proponent of u. S. Energy production, certainly within oil and gas, it makes me feel pretty good actually to hear you say that of the four upheavals that you referenced, the first one is the u. S. Being a leader in oil and gas production. As i say, just in the figures that ive been here in the senate and serving on this committee we have gone from a perspective of discussion about lng import terminals cannot export terminals, toolholder bitterly and reliance for our oil on countries that we dont like and they dont like us, and now we are truly in the drivers seat. So that is significant, but i think it also is very important for this committee to hear very clearly the other areas that you identified, that the cost of renewables areuickly an that the direction that is being taken and the advances in solar and wind, the fact that theyre getting to the point where they can stand on their own and be cost competitive. That factors in mightily in terms of the direction that we move from a policy perspective. And paying attention to what is happening in the world, the leadership of china, it could be very easy for us to say that china is the big polluter out there. But when they are advancing policies that are really keyed in on cleaner energy and energy sources, whether that is again importing lng that may come from a place like alaska or from elsewhere, but to recognize their leadership in nuclear. And then also your fourth. About the share of electricity growing faster than the other sectors and the implications that portends. A lot to think about as we begin the new year but thank you for your insight, for your guidance we look forward to learning more from you about these very important geopolitical issues into energy space. You have been most helpful. Youve been generous with your time. We wish you safe travels back when he returned to france so thank you very much. Thank very much, madam chair. With that, the committee stands adjourned. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] vendors are you concerned theire otherwise might be supporting the policy are now opposing the policy . Well, i mean, you could view it that way and again, i think theres much that remains to be concerned in terms of the direction that this ocs proposal is actually going to take. What i have been telling people is just dont get too exercis about it. This is a draft and this draft proposal put everything out there on the table. So ryan zinke is getting all the feedback, good and interview. And i would expect that he would then take, whether its the letters from senators like this or the feedback from the kennedys, from the governors, hes going to weigh all that. Your question about whether or not this pushes some who might be, otherwise mightve been inclined to be more cooperative at the negotiating table pushes into a different spot, that thats possible. Im not part of those conversations, but is he generating the conversation . Yeah. I dont know, i think we will see it moves forward. Revenuesharing [inaudible] get something passed through congress . I was hoping you would ask. Well whats the latest . Revenuesharing is one of those issues that for me as a producing state and a coastal state, revenuesharing has been something that i introduced her been engaged in since i came here. So i will continue to try to advance that conversation. The fact that there is, there are a lot more who are now looking at this issue as, for perhaps the first time in a long while. I mean, the reality is during the Obama Administration there wasnt much conversation about ocs production, much less revenuesharing because if you have production theres nothing to share. I think it does prompt more discussion about what revenuesharing might look like outside of the gulf states. Have you had those since the draft plan has come out . I have not. The draft plan was just last week, right . Two weeks. Its been a blur. Isnt this october already . Specific conversations. E what about you energy bill . I know you mentioned before [inaudible] well, in fairness, i think most of us thought that these issues that we have in front of us now we wouldve dealt with already. So this was not my plane. My plan was to have a much cleaner slate in january. Obviously, lisas plan did not happen. Well get beyond where we are right now with uncertainty about funding the government, uncertainty about the omnibus, uncertainty about all these other things. And sooner is better obviously. Because we do have a lot of things that we need to be working on. We need to start moving on this energy bill. Weve got a lot of other initiatives that i think folks want to try to get to. Daylight is wasting. Senator, that youre has to do a lot of things before it can have talked to the administration on timelines about when things will start to happen, like assurances of whatt we get done this year, next year . Well, since the passage of the bill, we all recognized there is a great deal that is preliminary to any level of activity there. The folks over at interior have put together their teams. They are working on things. But before we can ask them give us the timeline here, they need to map out and lay it out. So well have an opportunity for further sit down, but as of right now there is no schedule other than what we put into law, which was the timeframe of the two lease sales. But i think most dont fully appreciate the extent of preliminary work that the department will have to conduct, to basically organized and set up before you were going to see much of anything, and it is because this is you know, i would call it a frontier area in the sense that thats my secret refrigerator there. [laughing] know what has been allowed or permitted to explore in this area, and so this is, we are setting up a whole new process here. We said this is to be managed similar to the National Petroleum reserve alaska. But having said that, it is not the npra and it is different and so that will be distinctions. Its going to take some time, but we will keep people posted on it. I was home this weekend and had a chance to visit with folks up in the fairbanks area. Fairbanks is very keyed into the prospects, the opportunity that more oil in our transalaska pipeline can bring and what it means from labor perspective and jobs and working. I fully expect people to say well, you know, i was moving things today . But the level of pragmatism. Like, well, this is a new area, this is the arctic. We will be patient, we will wait. Hurry it up, but recognizing it does take time. Would you like to legislate further on this . [inaudible] keep in mind that we have been kind of laying the groundwork for the prospect of opening it up for a long time in sitting with the people who live in the 1002 area. The town hall mting that i had back in april i guess it was, there were concerned from the community about okay, how will this move forward and what if im at the protections will we have and will there be coastal impact assistance, like we talked about in previous iterations of a anwr bill. And as you know through the reconciliation process, you are very limited in terms of what you can put into that legislation. So there are other things that we would like to provide by way of protections, whether environmental or just process. So yes, well be looking to do that. [inaudible] to the appropriations process . You can do anything to the appropriations process, right . But i do think this is important that we have a process through committee to take it up. Theres no reason not to. Okay. So happy to be back. I looked through the statistics that these women on the committee, i think would help. No, no. I counted i think there is eight on health. But i think if more members on help than you do on energy, yes. Check that one out. You get more women on your side, i think we happened to overhear and six overhear. Thats kind of good. That was my very preliminary search. Im pretty sure that help, there are more members, i think theres probably two more members on help. So dont give them that edge. Women are taking over energy, just saying. All right. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the federal government aces a possible shutdown this coming friday night. Members of cultural decide on a shortterm package of funds to keep the government working until the middle of next month. In the house we expect floor debate thursday. In the senate the package could come up as early as thursday afternoon. Live coverage when they return. Coming up thursday on the cspan networks, on cspan the e house returns at 10 a. M. Eastern are at noon they work on federal funding. On cspan2 the senate is in at 11 a. M. Eastern. A vote reauthorization at 12 15 p. M. We will join author Michael Wolff or talk about his book on the trump white house, fire and fury. At 10 30 a. M. On cspan3 has a House Rules Committee meeting, secoedestimony and whether to bring back congressional