Energy

Energy reform should reduce our dependence on foreign oil while increasing access to various forms of clean energy.  To quickly reduce our dependence on foreign oil, Congress should lift restrictions on clean drilling in our own territory.  Natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, and geothermal energy are viable alternatives to crude oil, and the free market has the capacity to advance these technologies.

Cap and Trade legislation will tax fossil fuels, raise energy prices, and force consumers into alternative fuels prematurely. Controlling markets in this fashion is not an appropriate role of government and cripples the economy.

While the environment should be protected and global warming studied, global warming should not drive national energy policy without clearer evidence.

Coal Plants & the EPA

Most of America’s energy needs are met with fossil fuels, and coal has long been the fuel of choice for electric generation. Since early in the first term, the Obama administration has targeted the coal industry, and the EPA has steadily tightened regulations. This is bad policy.

Regulating coal use directly increases the cost of electricity.  Since low-income families spend a larger portion of their income on utilities, this is especially hard on the poorest Americans, but it hits everyone and increases costs for everything people consume.

One ill-conceived idea is a carbon tax.  An excellent study was conducted by the Heritage Foundation available at: http://report.heritage.org/ib3819.  Heritage cites a 2012 US Energy Information Agency analysis of proposed carbon tax that would result in costs to the average family of some $1,900/year in income plus $500 non-gasoline energy costs, and it would add 10% to gasoline prices while costing the economy a million jobs by 2016.  

Since future carbon emissions from the developing world (including China & India) will far outweigh US emissions growth, even severely limiting our use of fossil fuels would have very little impact on worldwide carbon emissions. 

The Heritage study concludes that, “The economic, environmental, and political realities surrounding a carbon tax are clear indications that this is bad policy.”  I agree.

For even more fundamental, constitutional reasons, Congressman Bridenstine opposes EPA policy and regulatory efforts to penalize coal use.  It is entirely inappropriate for any federal agency to circumvent the separation of powers by trying to achieve by regulation what would never pass Congress as legislation.

For more information concerning my work and views on Energy issues, please contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

See also information on saving on gas and home energy expenses.