Energy
The issue of Energy is important to our district and to my work in Congress.
One of the biggest threats to our nation is our continued dependence on fossil fuels from other countries. This is particularly troubling due to ongoing the political turmoil in the Middle East. Imagine the consequences if Egypt decided to close the Suez Canal or if Libya, the 12th largest oil exporter in the world, decided to stop supplying western markets with crude oil.
We must get our own financial and energy priorities in order. In order to stop being victim to instability across the world, the United States develop our own energy solutions which will reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels. To do so, I support a multi-pronged “all of the above approach” to domestic energy production. Specifically, in the short-term, we need to:
End the “Permitorium” on Off-Shore Oil Production
- While the President’s official moratoria on drilling permits were lifted on May 28, 2010 and October 12, 2010 for shallow and deepwater drilling permits respectively, a de facto moratorium ("permitorium") still exists and must be lifted without delay. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has not issued a single deepwater drilling permit since the official moratoria were lifted. We need to produce as much domestic oil as can practicably be done. Lifting the permitorium is an appropriate step in achieving this goal.
Increase our Nuclear Power Production
- No nuclear power plants have been ordered in the United States since 1978. Since that time, more than 100 reactors have been canceled. It is readily accepted that nuclear power is reliable and safe. We need to do more to facilitate the development of nuclear power.
Increase our Domestic Natural Gas Production
- Our country has been blessed with plentiful reserves of natural gas. The Marcellus Shale, in our own back yard, is one domestic energy source that should be developed. A Penn State University study concludes there are recoverable reserves of at least 489 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, which is enough to meet our country’s natural gas needs for the next 100 years, at current consumption levels.
In the long term, I believe that the United States needs to develop domestic, renewable technologies to meet our energy needs and reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. Sources of renewable energy that I believe need to be considered include: nuclear, wind, hydro, solar, tidal, biomass, biofuel and geothermal. I intend to support policies that will stimulate American ingenuity and innovation to unleash these, and other, renewable energy technologies to reduce our fossil fuel consumption, promote greater efficiencies and conservation for a cleaner environment. I support the permanent extension of the research and development tax credit to work toward a clean energy future.