Q: How will Iraq’s announcement that it plans to suspend oil sales for 30 days affect summertime gas prices?
A: For those who wonder why the United States needs a long-term energy strategy that focuses on pumping up domestic production and homegrown renewable fuels, the Iraqi dictator once again rears his head to make it crystal clear. Our nation’s dependence on foreign crude puts the U.S. economy and national security interests at the mercy of regimes entangled in the complex affairs of the Middle East. Iraq is the sixth largest oil supplier to the U.S. It’s unclear how his latest directive will play out in the high-demand summer months. But it certainly underscores again how U.S. energy dependence puts the U.S. economy and American consumers at the mercy of oil-rich nations. For years I have worked to ramp up domestic production and consumption of renewable fuels by promoting public policies that enhance the supply and demand for home-grown energy supplies. It makes perfect sense to invest in the domestic production of ethanol, a clean-burning fuel that’s harvested in America’s breadbasket by patriotic Midwest farmers. Instead, the U.S. remains largely dependent on foreign oil located in the volatile regions of the Middle East. It’s imperative the U.S. enact public policies that advance alternative fuels and conservation initiatives. However, without investing in the domestic exploration and production of oil and gas, the United States will continue to fall far short of energy independence in the 21st century.
Q: Does the national energy proposal under debate in the Senate advance such public policy?
A: The Senate has an opportunity to pave the way for a balanced, long-term national energy strategy that will increase U.S. energy independence and limit the Yo-Yo affect that the OPEC stranglehold has on American motorists at the pump. Unfortunately, the Senate may miss this critical opportunity to develop traditional God-given resources of energy located right here at home. Under consideration is an initiative to open up just 2,000 acres of land in Alaska that could supply the equivalent of the foreign oil imported from Saudi Arabia for 30 years. Fierce opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge may derail this historic opportunity to build the three-legged stool that will help bring the U.S. closer to energy independence. That includes energy conservation, renewable fuels development and domestic oil and gas production. While I am optimistic about my bipartisan efforts to secure approval for the promotion of renewable, homegrown, green energy including ethanol, soydiesel, biomass and wind energy, the opposition to environmentally-conscientious development of domestic oil and gas in Alaska imperils America’s efforts to achieve secure economic and energy security in the 21st century. The choice is clear. Do we continue to keep American consumers and our men and women in the U.S. military subjected to the likes of Saddam Hussein? No. The more reasonable approach is to develop America’s own natural resources here at home under stringent, accountable environmental standards. The Senate ought to address the perpetual turmoil over oil by adopting a balanced energy plan that incorporates this three-legged stool.
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