Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Until 40 years ago, the nation largely took energy for granted. The corner station sold gas for around $0.30 per gallon, coal was cheap and plentiful, and nuclear seemed like the wave of the future. The Arab oil embargoes, several nuclear accidents, and increasing attention to the environment changed all that beginning in the 1970s. Today, we are caught in a thicket of regulation and high fuel costs. Alternatives such as solar and wind power are a reality but have not proven commercially viable without government subsidies. The recent Japanese experience at Fukushima has contributed to an ongoing freeze on developing nuclear power as has the problem of what to do with nuclear waste.

In a phrase, our nation should pursue all available forms of energy, be efficient in using it, and respect the environment in developing it. Our energy policy should embrace all types of energy: fossil and alternative fuels are all part of that equation. Once we have obtained the fuel, we should continually improve how efficiently we use it. That includes CAFE (automobile mileage) standards, residential and commercial building codes, and appliance efficiency standards. We have also learned to respect our environment. Planet Earth is the only home we have.

Our country stands ready to develop its oil and gas reserves, coal has long been a mainstay of our economy, and nuclear energy can be developed safely. We should continue to invest in alternatives and "green" solutions including solar, wind, and geothermal.

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