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As the summer months quickly approach and families start to plan vacations, our country continues to struggle with high energy costs. That is why the Democrats' cap-and-trade, or better known as cap-and-tax, energy plan is an irresponsible proposal that will do more harm than good. The simple truth behind the Democrats' energy plan is that it raises taxes, kills jobs, and will lead to more government intrusion in our lives.  Based on the allowance allocation formula in the Democrat cap-and-tax bill for electricity consumers, the 40 red states seen on this map will not have enough allowances to cover their emissions from electricity generation. The shortfall in allowances to the red states will lead to higher electricity costs for consumers, the total of which will roughly correlate with the dollar losses noted on the map (click the map to view).

The Democrats' energy plan is really a $624 billion national energy tax that will hit nearly every American family. This new national energy tax will be paid by anyone who turns on a light switch or plugs in an appliance.  The impact of this national energy tax will not only be seen in home utility bills or at the pump, but various estimates suggest that anywhere from 1.8 million to 7 million Americans could lose their jobs as well.

Republicans are for clean air, clean water and are committed to solving our energy crisis. Republicans believe there is a better way to achieve energy independence without destroying our economy and killing jobs.

The Democrat Energy Plans Will Create Higher Energy Costs, Tax Americans and Decrease American Jobs:

The Waxman-Markey Climate Legislation: Increasing the Price at the Pump (June 25, 2009)
The Waxman-Markey Climate Legislation: Higher Energy Prices, Fewer Jobs, and More Government Intrusion (May 14, 2009)
Chairman of House Tax Committee Admits Democrats’ Energy Plan Will Raise Energy Costs on American Consumers (May 14, 2009)
The Truth About the Democrat National Energy Tax (April 29, 2009)

House Republicans Offer "All of the Above" Energy Plan:

The American Energy Act—the Republican “all of the above” alternative—encourages more domestic energy production, drives down the cost of energy, creates more jobs, and likely meets the rigorous emission reduction goals that—according to their own Members—the Democrats’ plan cannot even reach.  The American Energy Act accomplishes this while “redoubling investment in present and future forms of coal-derived energy.  To read more on the Republican plan use the following link for H.R. 2846, the American Energy Act an “All of the Above” Energy Alternative.  Below you will find details on the bill's provisions:

Clean Coal Research:  Establishes an ‘‘American Renewable and Alternative Energy Trust Fund” in the Treasury consisting of the receipts from oil and natural gas leasing provided by the bill.  Amounts in the Trust Fund would be available to carry out research and development programs created by of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, including:

Oil shale, tar sands, other strategic unconventional fuels—3 percent of the Fund
Clean coal, including carbon sequestration research—7 percent of the Fund
Coal and related technologies—4 percent of the Fund

Clean Coal Investment Tax Credit:  Expands an existing energy investment tax credit for renewable energy equipment to include clean coal equipment. 

Section 526 Repeal:  Repeals Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.  Section 526 bans Federal agencies from procuring fuels derived from alternative energy such as liquid coal, tar sands, and oil shale.  This provision will help spur a market for liquid coal fuels and foster technological innovation.

Coal-to-Liquid:  Allows the Secretary of Interior to enter into long term coal-to-liquid fuel purchase contracts (for periods of five, ten, fifteen or twenty years) and to enter into standby loan agreements with up to six qualifying coal-to-liquid projects, helping to further generate a market for such technology.

Energy Production Credit:  Makes permanent the tax credit for the production of electricity derived from Indian coal and refined coal. 

Regulatory Reform:  Amends the Clean Air Act by stating that the term “air pollutant” does not include carbon dioxide and certain other greenhouse gases and shall not be used to regulate climate change.  The bill also prohibits any consideration of the impacts of greenhouse gases on any species of fish or wildlife or plant, ensuring that the Endangered Species Act shall not be used to regulate climate change.  This section denies the Environmental Protection Agency the ability to regulate carbon emissions, which would negatively affect the competitiveness of coal-fired power plants.

Energy and Gas Prices News Updates:

Just Don't Call It a Climate Bill The Wall Street Journal (May 17, 2010)
The Energy Policy Morass The Weekly Standard (April 26, 2010)
Climate Science In Denial The Wall Street Journal (April 22, 2010)
Environmentalism as Religion The Wall Street Journal (April 21, 2010)
The Cap and Tax Fiction Wall Street Journal (June 25, 2009)
The Big Chill Wall Street Journal (June 19, 2009)
House Republicans Draft Energy Bill With Heavy Focus on Nuclear Power New York Times (June 10, 2009)
House GOP Brings Back 'All of the Above' as Response to Dem's Energy Agenda E&E News (June 10, 2009)
Who Pays for Cap and Trade? Wall Street Journal (March 9, 2009)
Let's Get Real About Renewable Energy Wall Street Journal (March 4, 2009)
Smart Grid National Review (March 2009)

Energy and Gas Prices Related Documents:

Top 10 Facts Why the National Energy Tax Is Bad for America House Republican Conference (June 24, 2009
The President’s Energy Plan Will Lead to More Taxes, Fewer Jobs and Less Energy House Republican Conference (May 2009)

Energy and Gas Prices Related Links:

Fuel Economy A one-stop website provided by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for all of your energy questions.
House Republicans Real Energy Solutions House Republican's website dedicated to real energy solutions.

Energy and Gas Prices Related Legislation:

H.R. 49: American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act (cosponsor)
H.R. 896: To expedite the construction of new refining capacity on closed military installations in the United States, and for other purposes (original cosponsor)
H.R. 900: To establish procedures for causes and claims relating to the leasing of Federal lands (including submerged lands) for the exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of oil, natural gas, or any other source or form of energy, and for other purposes (original cosponsor)
H.R. 964: Emergency Solar Power Permit Act (original cosponsor)
H.R. 2846: American Energy Act (original cosponsor) 


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