SECURING OUR ENERGY FUTURE

Promote Oregon’s Natural Resources; Create Jobs

Securing America’s energy future will be one of the defining issues of this generation and the next.   I will be dedicated to working toward a comprehensive energy strategy that will responsibly boost supplies of American energy at home, create jobs, and invest in American technologies that keep the cost of energy low.   This includes responsibly increasing the supply of domestic sources of energy in this country, developing renewable energy resources in our local communities and encouraging investments in world class research and advanced technologies.

Responsibly utilizing America’s and Oregon’s natural resources: We must increase the supply of American sources of oil and natural gas and do it in a responsible and environmentally sensitive way.

As the father of Eagle Scouts, I have taught them to be respectful of our environment and natural resources.  Whether it’s natural gas or oil shale from Alaska, the Rocky Mountains and Texas, or biomass produced from wheat straw or forest waste right here in Oregon, we can responsibly use what we have in this country to produce affordable energy while generating economic development and family-wage jobs in our local communities.  Exploring for oil and gas in our own country makes the most sense, but we must focus on where the oil and gas is and protect the resources where it has proven not to be.  For instance, studies have shown the potential for oil and gas off the Oregon coast to be negligible.

Oregonians must also work to create jobs in our own communities by getting back to work in our forests, one of the most renewable resources we have.  We can do this in a responsible way that protects our treasured resources and habitat, preserves our lands and industries, and provides a sustainable source of income to Oregon families.  I trust Oregonians to take care of our state today and for tomorrow.

Developing renewable resources in our local communities: Oregon continues to be a leader in renewable energy produced from water, wind, solar, geothermal, fuel cells and biomass.  Our energy future will include all of these new forms of energy, as well as the natural gas that will be needed to backstop these renewable sources when the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining.   Hydropower is also vital to our energy portfolio, as over 40% of Oregon’s energy comes from this clean and reliable source.  Maintaining the hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River is critical to our region’s electricity, transportation, flood control and agricultural development.

Innovative American research and technologies can help ensure a more energy efficient future: American ingenuity has made us the great country we are today.  Following the free market system, we must continue to look for innovation by encouraging world-class research in renewable technologies, new environmentally sound energy extraction technologies, and energy efficiency measures.  Americans should continue to make their automobiles, appliances and homes more efficient.  And I will support higher education institutions in Oregon that are at the leading edge of research on new technologies like wave, biomass and geothermal energy.

Reducing our dependence on energy from unfriendly nations: According to the U.S. Government’s Energy Information Administration, the United States imports approximately 50% of its petroleum (gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, jet fuel, chemical feedstock, asphalt, and other products) from around the world.  A large portion of these imports come from politically unstable areas of the world such as the Middle East, Africa and Venezuela.  We are the ones who should be dictating the future of America’s energy needs, not would-be dictators from volatile governments.  For the sake of our national security and the safety and welfare of our kids and grandkids, Congress must lead in developing clean and efficient energy right here at home.

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