Energy and Gas Prices

High energy prices cause hardship for families, schools, businesses, and manufacturers in Alabama. It is my belief that the U.S. is too dependent on expensive foreign oil. There are a variety of possible solutions and we have the power to begin to achieve our own "energy independence."

The answer is a balanced energy policy. Solar and wind power are promising sources of renewable energy. The U.S. has significant domestic oil and natural gas resources, but by law many of these areas are currently off-limits to responsible development. Clean coal is part of the solution, especially in Alabama where a large portion of our electricity is generated from coal. However, what is abundantly clear is that expanded use of nuclear power must be part of the solution. The U.S. is lagging far behind France, China, and India in construction of nuclear power plants. We simply cannot achieve greater energy security without nuclear.

Alabama is taking its own leadership role through the development of alternative fuels. The I-65 Clean Corridor Initiative is one such example.

The "cap and tax" legislation some have proposed would lead to much higher energy costs in Alabama, placing a great burden on families and businesses in Alabama already struggling just to make ends meet. I voted against this legislation (the Waxman-Markey bill) when it was brought to the House floor. To help reduce U.S. reliance on oil from hostile regimes in the Middle East, I support construction of the Keystone XL pipeline with Canada, which would bring up to one million barrels of oil a day to U.S. refineries and create at least 20,000 jobs.

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