Issue Position: Energy Policy
Issue Position
Issue Position: Energy Policy
America Achieve Energy Independence within 30 years
To achieve this end, I propose three phases:
Phase 1 - Dramatically Increase U. S. Energy from All Sources - 2008-2012
o Permit safe drilling everywhere on the continental shelf,
o Permit safe extraction of oil shale,
o Permit safe and limited drilling in the ANWR oil fields of Alaska,
o Permit the building of additional environmentally safe, clean coal power plants,
o Encourage the use of safe coal-gasification or syngas,
o Immediately change federal regulations and tax policy to encourage investment in additional building of new oil refineries,
o Encourage the research, development and production of biomass fuels from non-food sources,
o Pass any legislation necessary to help current ethanol investors, managers and employees transition to future biofuels products,
o Initiate a National Center for Energy, controlled by a public-private board, that will provide significant incentives to develop renewable, safe, plentiful, and cheap energy,
o Explore diplomatic ways of breaking the oil cartels.
New high paying domestic jobs will be created by all of the above as we move towards American made energy -wouldn't GM -Janesville be an ideal plant for hybrid cars and trucks to be built?
* Phase 2 - Increase American Made Energy- 2012-2035
o Have new nuclear power plants dominate new plant licensing between 2015-2035 by immediately changing federal regulations to permit the building of safe nuclear plants now,
o Encourage alternative fuel uses wherever they can be competitively priced, especially in transportation,
Today we send over 700 Billion dollars a year for oil to hostile, rogue or unfriendly countries in the world. What could we do with an "extra" 700 Billion dollars here in America while weakening their economies?
* Phase 3 - Energy Self-Sufficiency - 2030-2038
o Energy breakthroughs in renewable fuels brought about by private industry and the National Center for Energy are brought on line providing secure, safe, plentiful, and cheap fuels which will likely include wind, solar, hydrogen, and biofuels (non-food based). The economic standard must be that all fuels competing on an equal footing with no government defined winners and losers - but I believe that renewable fuels will then be the cheapest.
How can I as a potential freshman Member of Congress hope to be heard and get action on this energy plan?
* Well, first, I will exercise leadership, something the incumbent hasn't done in 10 years - that alone will get something done.
* Second, I am a Conservative and as such will work with other conservatives--the only group in Congress who have energy policies that will bring prices down.
* Third, I will work to mobilize the people of South Central Wisconsin to support change. That includes both getting their support and involving them anywhere I can in developing solutions through task forces of both experts and citizens. I do not plan to work alone.
* Fourth, I will speak out. I will speak, write, and be interviewed. I will work to develop public proposals. I will cooperate with like-minded people, regardless of party affiliation.
* Fifth, I believe that a cohesive, realistic and reasonable plan attracts support and encourages other policy-makers to look at the problem as a whole. Together, as energy reformers, we will have results.
* Sixth, I will be a reformer and a nonconformist to Washington as usual. Rep. Klug was such a person. For example he worked with other new Members of Congress to bring down the corrupt house bank.
* Finally, I will introduce legislation on this plan and seek sponsors. That is the job of a Member of Congress and I will do that job.
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