Energy Solutions
A strong and
prosperous economy depends upon access to energy at reasonable
prices, and with choices with our energy options we can also
benefit from competitive prices. The federal government has made
great strides to provide alternative energy sources, and I support
having an array of options - renewables, solar, geothermal,
domestic drilling and nuclear power. This doesn't negate the fact,
however, that we remain oil dependent because it is needed to
operate our cars and fuel our transportation needs. I remain
troubled that policies exist that restrict development of our own
oil reserves and prohibit new refineries from operating here at
home. We can wean ourselves from our dependence on foreign oil, and
in an environmentally sensitive way, but investors often won't
touch these projects because of the cost and time to comply with
federal regulations, which are constantly being tightened. We need
to open our own resources, especially the outer continental shelf
to drilling, while we also find other methods for fueling our
transportation sector. We're making headway with electric and
natural gas vehicles and alternative fuels through tax and other
incentives, but we still have a ways to go.
I support efforts to ensure that power- and fuel-generating
facilities operate using environmentally sound practices with top
safety provisions in place. They should be subject to reasonable
regulations based on sound science. Northeast Ohio is especially
engaged in developing alternative energy for power generation, and
through my position on the House Appropriations Committee I have
supported the work of research organizations and new businesses
with federal dollars for development of wind energy and fuel cells.
Advances in these areas will not only benefit consumers, but they
can lead to new manufacturing opportunities for businesses in
Ohio.