By: Peter G. Olson
Published: 06-17-08
For far too long America has been vulnerable in our national and economic security due to our dependence on foreign sources of oil.
Much of this vulnerability historically has been a hypothetical issue as the global price of oil fluctuated within acceptable parameters and technology allowed Americans to enjoy relatively inexpensive and easy means of fueling their lifestyles.
No longer can we as Americans pretend that all is well.
Today the issue of America’s energy independence is widely discussed and desired by people across the country. Nevertheless Congress’ only solutions to date have been to choose an inefficient and expensive form of alternative fuel – corn-based ethanol – and attempt to punish American energy companies for earning a profit.
Government should not be in the business of deciding the best form of alternative energy – that has led to a choice between food and fuel driving up the cost of both.
How long does our country have to wait before Congress realizes their short-sighted policies and pandering to political interest groups has come at the expense of our energy future our economy and our security?
Instead of returning to the gas shortages of the late 1970s by revising the Carter Administration’s disastrous windfall profits tax– which the Democrats in Congress propose – Congress should encourage development and commercialization of new technologies that will bring America energy independence.
Congress also should open up domestic oil reserves for environmentally safe exploration and production – in Alaska off the coast of Florida and wherever those reserves may be found. These sources along with new technology to bring production of oil shale and natural gas formations will help meet America’s immediate and intermediate energy needs while lowering energy costs for families until alternative fuels and energy sources are perfected.
We in the Houston area know that our greatest natural resource is the ingenuity and creativity of the American people. We only need look to NASA for inspiration. President Kennedy set the vision of putting a man on the moon within a decade Congress allocated the funds and NASA scientists and astronauts achieved it. Along the way Americans have benefited from the development of countless technologies and scientific discoveries.
In the same way our political leadership must make achieving energy independence a national strategic priority allocate research and development funds reject the cries of environmental radicals and let the American people discover develop and deliver the most effective and efficient energy solutions for our country.
Americans need our government to be a help not a hindrance – helping with research and development funds tax policies that encourage private investment in new energy technology and eliminating obstacles that prevent development rather than hindering the marketplace through regulation favoritism and regressive policies that only will result in increasing the costs of energy for the American consumer.
What will this mean for the Houston area?
The short answer is economic development and opportunity. Houston already is the world’s energy capital with diversified companies that continue to invest in both new areas of petroleum exploration and new energy technologies. Bio-diesel plants are opening in our area nuclear power plants are expanding and Houston recently hosted a conference on wind energy.
Houston’s future is energy as has been its history. Our area has the greatest concentration of energy professionals in the world. Just as the people in our area helped put man in space so too we can help make America more secure through energy independence. We only need people in Congress who have the will to allow us to do it.
Peter G. Olson is the Republican candidate for Texas’ 22nd congressional district.
