When the price of gasoline went through the roof last summer, we all witnessed the Clinton Administration's incredibly irresponsible accusations that big oil companies were "colluding." Price spikes occurred last summer because of the large number of the Clinton Administration's poorly implemented environmental regulations and our dependence on foreign oil supplies.
The solution to the high prices is not found in cheap political gimmicks like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Rather, the solution relies on developing a strategic national energy policy and having highly effective and streamlined environmental regulations.
Currently, 56.6% of the U.S.'s oil needs are met by foreign
sources. This presents a real energy and national security problem.
The military is equally dependent on foreign oil as the general public is. We must seek to encourage as great a domestically produced, diverse energy supply as possible -- including nuclear,
coal, oil, gas, and renewables.
When well thought out and reflecting consensus,
environmental regulations can certainly provide benefits to the
American people. But when regulations are rushed into effect
without adequate thought, they are likely to do more harm than
good.
Congress should not let the extreme environmental group's
tyranny force the American people to pay sky high prices for fuel.
Over the years, I have witnessed the environmental movement fight
any and all attempts to reform and streamline environmental regulations. We are dealing with this energy crisis largely because
the environmental extremists dictated our nation's energy policy for
the last eight years. A consequence that they do not want to tell the
American people is a byproduct of their efforts.
If you do not do it the environmentalists way, then we see all of the commercials detailing horror stories. Well, the energy crisis it a real life horror story. A horror story, which will only get worse. If we, as a nation, do not do something about it, it will affect every aspect of everyone's life. I want all of the American people to take notice!
Let's not forget. When the price of energy rises that means the less fortunate in our society must make a decision between keeping the heat and lights on or paying for other essential needs. I am hearing from school after school that heating bills are depleting the funds that usually go to supplies and books. Though we are seeing with the rolling blackouts in California right now that it does not matter how much money you have - because the energy just doesn't exist. There is a real human cost to the extreme environmental
movement.
Last December, the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration released a study on regulating C02 emissions from utilities. The study concluded that the mandatory regulation of C02 from utilities will cost $60-1 15 billion per year
by 2005. The mandatory regulation of C02 would make the price and availability of energy a national crisis - at a scale that our nation has never before experienced. Environmental regulations are a large contributor to the energy crisis in California. Before we add to the current regulatory web, our nation should look at how we can implement our current environmental regulations - more effectively and efficiently.
As a Senator and grandfather, I want to ensure the cleanest environment for our nation. I am convinced that environmental regulations can be harmonized with energy policy. Our current situation demands it.
Unlike his predecessor, President Bush can not continue to place layer after layer of regulations without any consideration of their energy implications. The environmental community does not have to answer to the American people when energy prices go through the roof or to worry about the national security implications of greater dependence on foreign energy sources. However, the President does.