White Mountain Independent - "Sydney Hay: Plan for energy independence"

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White Mountain Independent - "Sydney Hay: Plan for energy independence"

Congressional candidate said Sydney Hay notes that global demand for energy is increasing and much of the world's oil is delivered in a market dominated by foreign and often unstable nations.

Limitations on domestic oil production, enacted by Congress, have contributed to a steady decline in domestic production since 1985, she said.

"In fact, since 1994, the United States has been importing more oil from foreign nations than it produces domestically - a trend we desperately need to reverse," Hay said.

While the government restricts domestic exploration and development of many of our natural resources, Congress also creates artificial markets when they subsidize certain sectors in the energy market, thereby creating an unfriendly market for other energy sources, such as solar, hydrogen and wind-generated power, to name a few, she said.

"All Americans want a clean and healthy environment to enjoy with their families and to pass along to future generations. However, far too often, those of us who wish the United States to be energy independent are unfairly characterized as being against a safe and healthy environment for our families. That's nonsense," Hay said.

"As a mother and grandmother, I want our environment to be healthier for my grandchildren than it is for me. We can do that, and we can make our nation energy independent in doing so."

Today, she added, many Americans harbor misunderstandings about energy exploration and production, the latest technologies used for energy extraction, how the environment is impacted and market forces that cause increased prices at the pump and at the grocery store.

"Americans simply want the nation to meet their energy needs at affordable prices, while also taking steps to protect the environment. They elect representatives to solve the problem but, partisanship often leads Congress to enact policies that not only do not solve the problem, but actually make it worse, harming the nation's ability to meet its energy needs and hurting the economy.

"As a nation, our energy policy should be based on free-market principles. Far too often, government intervention creates unfair market situations. Government should never be in the position of picking winners and losers."

Hay believes the nation's political leaders must rely on the private sector's research and development capabilities to deliver the necessary energy supplies and viable new energy sources.

"If we are to truly become energy independent, we must repeal federally directed mandates, burdensome regulations, unfair subsidies and all other artificial constraints and tax barriers that limit the free market's ability to deliver efficient, safe and economical energy supplies," she said.

"I think we all agree that there isn't one energy source that we can rely on to make us energy independent. We need to allow for increased development and use of nuclear power, an increase of natural gas exploration and production, and yes, an increase in domestic oil and oil shale exploration and production. We also need government to simply stop interfering in the marketplace to allow other renewable energies such as hydrogen, wind-generated power, new biodiesel technologies and the enormous potential of solar energy to compete on a level playing field."

She outlined the steps that should be implemented to ensure the nation can meet its energy needs:

1. Increase Oil Exploration and Production:

"Since 1994, the United States has been importing more oil than we produce domestically. Regulations and limits on production have put us in the current position with respect to rising fuel and food prices. Without commonsense solutions to the use of our domestic resources, we'll continue on the path to unaffordable gas prices and exorbitant food prices. I propose to bring ANWR , Oil Shale and OCS deepwater exploration online immediately."

2. Increase and Improve Refining Capacity:

"It's been over thirty years since a refinery has been built in the United States. With refinery infrastructure showing its age and refining capacity already stretched to its limits, global market fluctuations make it increasingly difficult for current refineries to respond to market changes. New, cleaner technologies in the refining process must be taken advantage of and new refineries must be brought online to keep pace with demand."

3. Pursue Clean Coal Technology:

"Today, coal provides most of our nation's electricity. Our coal reserves are vast. As Senator John McCain has said, 'Perhaps no advancement in energy technology could mean more to America than the clean burning of coal and the capture and storage of carbon-emissions.' An exciting new technology is beginning to be used to produce jet fuel from coal."

4. Step Up the Permitting of Nuclear Power Plants:

"Nuclear power is essential to clean, efficient and affordable energy. It generates no air pollution, water pollution, or ground pollution.

The U.S. currently gets 50 percent of its electricity from coal and 20 percent from nuclear. Reversing these percentages through increased use of nuclear power should unite both climate change advocates and anyone who wants American energy independence. The resulting expanded electrical grid could also meet the needs of large numbers of electric or hydrogen cars.

"The rest of the world is quickly heading toward nuclear power. France is not only meeting the majority of its electricity demand through its nuclear program, but they are also selling their technology to the developing world. The United States once dominated this technology. We are now being left behind. The main culprit is public fear. It is time to allay those fears and avail ourselves of this clean, safe and virtually-unlimited source of energy. "

5. Provide Across-the-board Carbon-Efficient Energy Development Tax Credits:

"Companies who are willing to use their own capital to develop carbon- efficient energy sources should be rewarded with Carbon-Efficient Energy Development Tax Credits. Capital spent on testing, exploration and production of new carbon-efficient energy sources would be exempt from federal taxes for a minimum of 10 years. In this way, government will not pick winners and losers among alternative energy sources, but rather allow all potential solutions including wind, solar, hydrogen, bio-diesel, cellulosic ethanol, etc. to advance equally."

"The United States of America is the greatest nation in the history of the world. Surely we can make ourselves energy independent and create a cleaner environment at the same time. First, Congress needs to reverse the failed policies of the past and get government out of the way of the innovative power of the American entrepreneur," Hay said.

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