From Hope to Higher Ground: on Energy & Oil

Kyoto was a mistake, but “Earth in the Balance” is not

Shouldn’t limit oil production while increasing consumption

Even as we increase our consumption of energy, we dramatically limit our production, making us even more vulnerable to outside sources to fuel our cars and economy. We have not build a new refinery in 30 years. Politics has kept us from developing potential exploration in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, or along the Outer Continental Shelf, and the lack of leadership toward alternative forms of energy has left us with little more than higher prices and a growing anxiety.

Explore ways to harness nuclear power

While many Americans still fear nuclear power, we would be wise to explore ways to harness it for purposes more peaceful and productive than the building of bombs. The growing anxiety over the impact of suddenly spiking gasoline, nature gas, and electricity costs have created near panic in the homes of many Americans. Many small business owners are threatened out of existence because of the escalating costs from uncontrollable energy expenses. People who are impoverished and on the brink of financial disaster can be pushed over the edge when they simply do not have the money to pay their electric bill and cannot afford to pay for transportation to work.