It was a slow couple of weeks-- until it seemed every presidential candidate came to New Hampshire this weekend! We had an opportunity to speak again with Governor Huckabee last Wednesday at a well-attended house party. Last time we had spoken, Governor Huckabee was very interested in the It's Your NH Energy resolution, so I followed up with him this time by asking him what he thought about a windfall profits tax.
Gov. Huckabee admitted that he hadn't done a lot of research on the tax, but did say that he knows from a personal standpoint, when a WPT was introduced in the past, it really hurt many very small oil producers in Arkansas. He said if there were such a tax, he could only support its revenue being used for research in alternative energy supplies. I explained to him the position of itsyournh that a tax is a disincentive for the oil companies to invest in new technology and alternatives and that it would negatively impact the economy, and he seemed to find this argument logical.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Hillary "Energizes" Her Crowd
Despite postponing her trip a week, Senator Hillary Clinton’s return to New Hampshire at Concord High School this past weekend drew a large and enthusiastic audience. The visit to NH highlighted once again New Hampshire’s citizens’ commitment to sound energy policy. During Senator Sylvia Larsen’s introduction, her mention of Hillary’s work to end dependence on Middle East oil got as big an applause as, if not bigger than, her cry to “restore sanity to our national security policy.” Throughout the rest of the well-attended and well-planned event, Senator Clinton was interrupted several times for applause for any mention of new energy policy.
The NY Senator said that she was “convinced we can have a new energy future. Our security is at risk because we depend on foreign oil. Our environment and planet are at risk. I want to convince people that doing the right thing for our energy and our environment is the right thing to do for our economy.” Several times the former first lady criticized President Bush for not calling on the American people to sacrifice. If elected, she explained to the crowd, she would ask them to sacrifice by conserving energy and being more efficient. “We can make up a lot of the energy money we’re spending overseas just by turning off the lights and changing the bulbs.” The best policy to pursue in a post 9/11 world, she said, is a new energy policy.
The crowd seemed particularly appreciative of her focus on conservation and alternative energy supplies. Senator Clinton is convinced that American ingenuity can find solutions to energy problems. Until a technological breakthrough, however, we can become more energy independent by putting the tax subsidies given to oil companies into a strategic energy fund, along with increased conservation, sacrifice, and use of alternatives. The limits of the crowd’s enthusiasm for energy independence was tested however, when a member of the high school’s marching band asked her why she would not consider drilling in Alaska to decrease dependence on the Mid East. She responded amid jeers directed at the young student that “everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not to their own facts,” a quote from her predecessor Daniel Patrick Moynihan. According to Clinton, it would take 10 years for oil from ANWR to hit the market, which does not make the project worth it to the Senator.
The NY Senator said that she was “convinced we can have a new energy future. Our security is at risk because we depend on foreign oil. Our environment and planet are at risk. I want to convince people that doing the right thing for our energy and our environment is the right thing to do for our economy.” Several times the former first lady criticized President Bush for not calling on the American people to sacrifice. If elected, she explained to the crowd, she would ask them to sacrifice by conserving energy and being more efficient. “We can make up a lot of the energy money we’re spending overseas just by turning off the lights and changing the bulbs.” The best policy to pursue in a post 9/11 world, she said, is a new energy policy.
The crowd seemed particularly appreciative of her focus on conservation and alternative energy supplies. Senator Clinton is convinced that American ingenuity can find solutions to energy problems. Until a technological breakthrough, however, we can become more energy independent by putting the tax subsidies given to oil companies into a strategic energy fund, along with increased conservation, sacrifice, and use of alternatives. The limits of the crowd’s enthusiasm for energy independence was tested however, when a member of the high school’s marching band asked her why she would not consider drilling in Alaska to decrease dependence on the Mid East. She responded amid jeers directed at the young student that “everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not to their own facts,” a quote from her predecessor Daniel Patrick Moynihan. According to Clinton, it would take 10 years for oil from ANWR to hit the market, which does not make the project worth it to the Senator.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Talking with Tancredo
Rep. Tancredo held a meet and greet after the GOP convention on Saturday, January 27th, attended by about 30 enthusiastic supporters. Questions were taken afterwards, from anyone who wanted to speak to him themselves. The energy question was asked immediately by someone in the small group, so I just listened in. He gave a long response, calling energy the “other most important domestic policy issue.” He raised a few different issues:
- He is concerned that most of our oil and gas comes from unfriendly countries, which means our economy is dependent on other countries’ perceptions of the United States, so we make policies that are not good for the US just to satisfy the need for oil. He stressed the need to explore and develop our own resources offshore and within the Continental US. He said this is not enough, but it is a significant amount, of oil.
- He believes we can also continue to develop alternatives, particularly nuclear which is a safe and clean energy source if we can figure out the uncertainty of where to store the rods. He pointed out, however, that it does take 80 months from application to construction of a nuclear power plant, so it is not an immediate resource. He also mentioned ethanol and coal gasification, the latter in conjunction with nuclear energy to provide an efficient means of extracting coal shale.
- He stressed that we will get far more out of a free enterprise system that rewards new technology rather than taxing it. In terms of “big oil” he said “most people are mad at them, so am I, I’m not a wealthy person,” but the best way to handle them is not to put taxes on development. Perhaps we should put taxes on imported oil, he suggested.
Vilsack's Visit
Last week, I also had the opportunity to see Governor Vilsack and his lovely wife, Christie, in person as they made the rounds of New Hampshire. Speaking to a group of Middle School students, both the Governor and his wife were warm and approachable. I was as impressed with his ability to speak clearly and intelligently to these students as I was by the level of their questions. They covered many of the same topics an adult audience would have, and at one point asked him what he “could do better than President Bush.” He faltered a bit, I think surprised at the frankness of the question, and covered several topics in his response. His discussion of energy policy is what I was most interested in however.
“With global warming,” he began, “it’s really, really important to have an aggressive, large effort on climate change.” One of the few executives in the race for president, he related some of his talking points to progress they have made in Iowa. Iowa produces a lot of renewable fuel, primarily ethanol, and he stressed the importance to expanding those efforts all over America. His view on energy policy is inclusive, and a way forward for him stresses the environment, the economy and security. As part of a national energy plan, he would ask America to use less energy in their homes, buildings, and cars, and push companies and industry to use and develop new technology. Second, he believes we can use traditional power better by using less carbon producing energy and paying a cost associated with carbon production. He returned to ethanol, describing its virtues, among them: “you don’t have to buy it from foreign countries so it’s better for the environment and security.”
Tom and Christie Vilsack don’t just talk the talk- they own a hybrid car and received the purchase of enough carbon credits to offset their travels on the campaign trail as a Christmas gift from their son.
“With global warming,” he began, “it’s really, really important to have an aggressive, large effort on climate change.” One of the few executives in the race for president, he related some of his talking points to progress they have made in Iowa. Iowa produces a lot of renewable fuel, primarily ethanol, and he stressed the importance to expanding those efforts all over America. His view on energy policy is inclusive, and a way forward for him stresses the environment, the economy and security. As part of a national energy plan, he would ask America to use less energy in their homes, buildings, and cars, and push companies and industry to use and develop new technology. Second, he believes we can use traditional power better by using less carbon producing energy and paying a cost associated with carbon production. He returned to ethanol, describing its virtues, among them: “you don’t have to buy it from foreign countries so it’s better for the environment and security.”
Tom and Christie Vilsack don’t just talk the talk- they own a hybrid car and received the purchase of enough carbon credits to offset their travels on the campaign trail as a Christmas gift from their son.
Dodd Outlines Energy Policy
I had the opportunity to meet Sen. Dodd last weekend in a small gathering at the lovely Lazy Lion Café in Deerfield. The former Peace Corp volunteer in the Dominican Republic spoke from professional and personal experience, noting his 30 years in the House and Senate and the birth of his two daughters, 5 and 22 months, that inspire him to create a better future for America. The crowd received him warmly, interrupting him for applause several times and appreciating the opportunity to ask him several questions.
While local press reported on some of his larger events in New Hampshire over the weekend, the intimacy of this gathering allowed us to get better insight into some of his opinions. Fosters Daily Democrat reported January 21st that at an event in Dover, the Connecticut Senator noted as president, he “would support a ‘relatively aggressive program’ on alternative energy sources, in conjunction with conservation efforts and exploration of other fuel sources.”
Dodd delved into what “relatively aggressive” meant later that day in Deerfield. First he mentioned how “outrageous” it is that the United States turned its back on the Kyoto Protocol. He would like to see us at least return to the table for negotiations. He went on to say that cornerstones of his national energy plan would be conservation and alternative energy supplies, with the goal of reducing consumption by 4 millions barrels per day. In this way, he believes, the United States can be entirely independent of Middle East fuel supply within 10 years. Entirely dependent in 10 years.
It would seem that if with a bit of investment in alternatives and a renewed focus on consumption we could totally eliminate our dependency on foreign oil, more politicians would be talking about it.
While local press reported on some of his larger events in New Hampshire over the weekend, the intimacy of this gathering allowed us to get better insight into some of his opinions. Fosters Daily Democrat reported January 21st that at an event in Dover, the Connecticut Senator noted as president, he “would support a ‘relatively aggressive program’ on alternative energy sources, in conjunction with conservation efforts and exploration of other fuel sources.”
Dodd delved into what “relatively aggressive” meant later that day in Deerfield. First he mentioned how “outrageous” it is that the United States turned its back on the Kyoto Protocol. He would like to see us at least return to the table for negotiations. He went on to say that cornerstones of his national energy plan would be conservation and alternative energy supplies, with the goal of reducing consumption by 4 millions barrels per day. In this way, he believes, the United States can be entirely independent of Middle East fuel supply within 10 years. Entirely dependent in 10 years.
It would seem that if with a bit of investment in alternatives and a renewed focus on consumption we could totally eliminate our dependency on foreign oil, more politicians would be talking about it.
Welcome!
Welcome to the blog inspired by ItsYourNH.com and dedicated to promoting a sound energy policy. As one of ItsYourNH.com's top federal issues, and a top issue for the nation, we want to make sure that energy issues take center stage in the presidential primaries. We will be speaking with all the candidates and reporting their thoughts on energy here, as well as keeping you updated on current events. We hope you will check back often to learn more about this important issue.
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