Issue Position: Energy & Environment

Issue Position

Environment - The simultaneous destruction of the world's great forests and the wanton production of greenhouse gases is causing global warming and climate change, a threat to countless species, including our own. Therefore our goal must be to cut greenhouse gas emissions and move our energy system away from fossil fuels and into energy efficiency and renewable energy. As a leader in the world community, and its biggest polluter, the United States should approve and abide by the Kyoto Accord (the United Nations treaty regarding global warming and climate change).

Nothing is as important to our environment as clean air and water, therefore I will fight to protect and strengthen the Clean Air and Water Acts to keep our air and water free of toxic pollution. I will also fight to properly fund and staff the EPA to enable it to enforce our environmental laws and protect all our longstanding and proven safeguards to public health, safety and the environment.

Water in the West -- Since 1869, when Maj. John Wesley Powell made his report to Congress, we have been aware of the vagaries of the Colorado River and the fact that water resources in the West are limited. In the Valley of the Sun about half of our water comes from our rivers and the other half from wells. Most of Arizona's rural communities depend entirely upon wells and several are in trouble because the water table has dropped substantially due to sustained pumping. Our rivers fluctuate with the weather and, unfortunately, we are in the twelfth year of a drought that could last several more years. The high-water marks on the canyon walls in Lake Mead and Lake Powell are a graphic reminder of better days. We can allocate and re-allocate the Colorado's water among the states that share it, but none can be created. The problem is simple: the demand for fresh water is surpassing supply. Of course it is possible to increase supply with expensive projects to desalinate sea water or build a pipeline from the Columbia River or the Great Lakes, but there are no plans to do so. I am concerned that Arizona's leaders, who still insist that everything is O.K., may be in denial or perhaps they don't want to be alarmists responsible for slowing growth in a state whose economy depends so heavily on the construction industry. We need real leaders who will lead with an eye to the future and who will not be dissuaded by pressure from those whose only concern is to make a short-term profit. We obviously can't control the weather, but we can and should regulate usage and control growth in order to prevent a catastrophe. If, elected, I will work with federal and state officials and prod them to take positive steps to deal with this perennial problem.

Energy - In order to keep the United States economically competitive, create jobs, and enhance our national security. Congress should advance clean energy policies and investments that will hasten our nation's transition from over-reliance on fossil fuels to a clean energy economy. With more than 300 sunny days each year, Arizona should be leading the nation in solar energy production. If elected, I will do everything I can to promote solar power for Arizona and the country because nothing holds so much promise as an economic engine as this safe and clean technology. Americans also have a duty to share in the responsibility to conserve energy and reduce our consumption of fossil fuels.

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