State Journal - Libertarian Senate Candidate "Pro' Coal

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By Unknown

John Buckley, Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate race, said there is no doubt the state's economy will remain in tact despite the dual competition within the energy industry.

Buckley said he is "pro" coal to the extent he is "pro" business or industry and he is "pro" enterprise in general.

"Coal is not going to be replaced as a source of energy in the United States, but it is a welcome sign that our state is also proving to be a great source of natural gas energy through fracking and other technologies," Buckley said. "If we properly monitor violations of property rights (potential contamination of water sources, mineral rights, and the concern over earthquakes, for example), our limited government, free enterprise system of government can properly protect the interests of all parties."

Buckley also believes it is a mistake to mandate carbon capture technologies.

"Killing the golden goose of our basic industries in the present will rob us of the economic prosperity necessary to afford technological solutions in the future," Buckley said. "It is also "spitting in the wind' to unilaterally diminish our coal industry when major countries across the world continue, and indeed accelerate, their own major contributions to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

Buckley said if the state properly monitors violations of property rights and the concern over earthquakes, for example, limited government, free enterprise system of government can properly protect the interests of all parties.

"The country should continue to ensure that the coal industry pays the cost of its pollution," Buckley said. "Rather than externalizing that cost.

"There are ups and downs in any industry," he added.

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