Hours before T. Boone Pickens met with Kansans to discuss his plan to meet 20% of our nation’s energy needs with wind energy, Sen. Pat Roberts voted against renewable energy tax incentives in Washington.

Roberts voted against the Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008 which would have increased incentives for alternative energy entrepreneurs by $18 billion to promote energy independence and create new jobs in Kansas and across the country. [Vote 192, 08/30/08]

“Sen. Roberts has voted repeatedly against renewable energy and against gaining independence from foreign oil,” said Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Gaughan.

“At a time when Kansans are eager for a plan to address $4 gas by looking to renewable energy, Pat Roberts continues to turn a blind eye and instead favors Big Oil billionaires - the same Big Oil billionaires who are lining the pockets of his campaign.”

Roberts is listed as one of the top ten Senate candidates whose campaigns have benefited from Big Oil campaign contributions. To date, Roberts has taken more than $300,000 from Big Oil. [OpenSecrets.org, 08/31/08]