Energy
I understand the United States’ dependence on energy sources is one gravest national security issues facing our country. If America wants to reduce its dependence, we must utilize our own resources right here in America. I am committed to responsible development of domestic natural resources and have fought in Congress for an all-of-the-above energy strategy.
Whether we like it or not, our country will be dependent on oil and coal for many years to come so we must ensure a safe but reliable domestic energy industry within our borders. I have supported legislation aimed at restarting offshore leasing, reversing the administration's effective moratorium on new offshore drilling, and putting the Gulf Coast back to work. I support the approval of the Keystone Pipeline. And I have worked diligently to protect rural Arizona’s four coal-fired power plants (Navajo Generating Station, Apache Generating Station, Cholla Power Plant, and Coronado Generating Station) from the Obama Administration’s regulatory overreach, while supporting reasonable clean air and conservation efforts.
I also strongly believe our nation must pursue alternative energy sources, and have supported many of the efforts to do so. For example, I have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, that streamlines permitting for wind, solar and geothermal energy projects on public lands, while creating a revenue source to assist local governments in their efforts to deliver critical services and develop much-needed capital improvement projects such as road maintenance, public safety, and law enforcement. My bill has the support of our Governor, many of our city, town, and county government officials, and an array of active sportsman and conservation groups in our state.
As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee on Water and Power, I have promoted low-cost, clean, renewable and emissions-free hydroelectricity generated by federal dams and reservoirs. Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District is home to many of these facilities, including parts of the Hoover Dam, one of the largest sources of hydroelectricity in the country. Additionally, I have worked on legislation that promotes small-scale hydropower development on local water canals and irrigation ditches. The potential is sitting right in front of us; we just need to get the federal government out of the way.
I firmly believe Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District can be a model for energy driven economic recovery in this country. Rural Arizona is rich with natural resources and contains diverse climates that are conducive to all forms of energy generation, including traditional fossil fuels, hydro-electric, solar, and wind power. Unfortunately employment in Arizona’s natural resources and mining sector has remained stagnant for nearly two years. The federal government needs to get out of the way, remove regulatory and bureaucratic barriers to development and generation, and let Arizona businesses put Arizonans back to work.
For more information concerning my work and views on the issue of Energy, please contact my Washington, DC office.
I look forward to your feedback.
Thank you.