Energy
Gas prices have begun a dramatic climb earlier than normal this year, with many experts anticipating more drivers than ever will pay $5 per gallon. This follows an almost 100 percent increase in gas prices since President Obama took office in 2009. In February 2009, gas prices on average were $1.92 a gallon. Gas prices as of February 27, 2012 are an average of $3.72. Many experts say this is due to the president’s energy policies that promote ‘green’ energy, which currently only supplies about 8 percent of our total energy usage, over traditional forms of energy. The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have worked tirelessly to appease the environmental extremists that make up their base and cut production of our traditional forms of energy like oil, natural gas, and coal.
I support an all-of-the-above approach to our energy. If we are ever going to become energy independent, we need to look at all available options out there. This starts with increasing production of our domestic oil, natural gas, and coal. These three sources of energy produce the majority of our energy needs. Estimates put more than 800 billion barrels of untapped oil in onshore and offshore reserves in the U.S. Putting even a fraction of that on the market would undoubtedly help lower the cost of gasoline. Also, we must expand our ability to refine crude oil. A new oil refinery has not been built in this country in more than 30 years, pushing our existing refineries to their production limit. Without updating and expanding our refining capacity, we will be unable to effectively and efficiently convert our crude oil into gasoline.
We also need to look at new ways to secure traditional forms of energy from our allies rather than relying so heavily on unstable and unfriendly countries in the Middle East. TransCanada estimates the Keystone Pipline would have brought 700,000 barrels of oil each day from Canada, our largest trading partner in the world. Plus, according to the U.S. State Department, construction of the pipeline would have created 5,000 to 6,000 jobs. Unfortunately, President Obama blocked the project. Now Canada is in discussions with China to sell the oil to them. Blocking projects like this is not the way to bring down rising energy prices.
This all-of-the-above approach must also include non-traditional forms of energy as well. I am a big proponent of increasing our production of nuclear energy. It is a clean, emission-free source of energy. A nuclear reactor has not been built in this country in 30 years, however nuclear energy still makes up about 20 percent of our energy consumption. This will not be the case for long though. This year, it was announced the United States would build its first nuclear reactor in more than 30 years in our home state of Georgia at Plant Vogtle. Georgia is honored to be the home of the first nuclear reactor built in the United States in more than 30 years with the construction of Plant Voghtle. We look forward to leading the way to more nuclear energy plants like this one in the future.
I also support the production of other new energy, such as biofuels, wind power, and solar power. However, we must be realistic about this. Until we develop a way to dramatically increase the production of these so-called ‘green’ energy sources and also develop a way to harness and transport that energy, we must make sure that traditional forms of energy are cheaply and readily available to American families. Congressional Democrats and the White House tend to put all their eggs in this 'green' energy basket - and that's simply not an option for us today.
If you have further questions about this issue, you can contact Stephanie Newton in my Washington DC office at 202-225-5901 or email me.
Power the Nation with American Energy
Week One: Power the Nation with American Energy
Week Four: The President's Permatorium on Offshore Drilling a Failed Energy Policy
Week Five: Gas Prices Are Lower Than Expected, But Is That Really Something to Celebrate?
Week Six: Bankrupting the Coal Industry: A Promise Actually Kept by President Obama... Unfortunately
Week Seven: Nuclear Power Is the Energy of Our Future
Week Nine:House Republicans Unveil Domestic Energy & Jobs Act to Create Jobs and Lower Energy Costs
Week Ten: Natural Gas Is a Cheap, Abundant, and Safe Resource to Feed Our Energy Needs