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Hayes: Energy independence would improve national security
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Published: September 29, 2008
Energy is a huge issue for our families, and it's a defining issue in this campaign. I support using more of the resources available in our country, and my opponent is still opposed to issuing these new leases, which will increase energy production and generate billions of dollars of new revenue to fund the energy of tomorrow. Simply doing the same thing will yield the same result of increasing prices and greater reliance on OPEC. I say, let's make a change for the better.
As we have seen firsthand, our economy is linked to the cost of energy. As energy costs rise, so does the cost of other goods, like food.
And as all these costs go up, families are forced to use more of their budget to put gas in their car and food on the table.
My position on energy is straightforward — we should be doing everything possible to address this growing problem and move our nation toward energy independence by developing reliable alternative energy sources for the future.
That's why I introduced H.R. 6383, The Alternative Energy Advancement, which seeks to increase the development of new alternative energy technologies by diverting all federal proceeds from future oil and gas leases into a newly created Alternative Energy Trust Fund.
In the short run, I believe we need to use more of the oil and gas that is available here in our country. Over the long run, I believe we need to develop and implement new alternative energy sources.
This legislation seeks to accomplish both of these goals by using the proceeds from oil and gas leases to fund alternative energy research and development for the future.
At the end of July, I joined with a group of common sense Republicans and Democrats to hammer out a bill to advance this idea and bring comprehensive energy reform to our nation. The National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act removes the total ban on ocean drilling and incorporates my concept to use the proceeds from these new leases to fund renewable energy for tomorrow.
It generates considerable revenue for states like North Carolina and it places strong 'Build/Buy-American' requirements in place to create more jobs in this country.
The problem we have faced with advancing serious legislative initiatives like this is opposition from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has blocked any form of new drilling off our coasts.
Only after tremendous public pressure and outcry, she finally allowed a vote on a new energy bill that would allow for some exploration of oil and natural gas on the outer continental shelf.
I supported this bill because it was a tiny step forward — but the problem is that it is only one tiny step forward when our country has miles to go in order to achieve energy independence.
In this weak legislation, the federal government will only allow states to drill on areas that are 50 miles off their shores, while experts tell us that the vast quantity of reserves are 25 miles off our nation's coasts.
If we are going to allow drilling, why wouldn't we do it where the oil is?
Additionally, this bill would not allow States like North Carolina share any of the revenue from new offshore production. I believe States like North Carolina should able to obtain significant royalties, and pass these funds on to state taxpayers and businesses as direct "dividend" payments.
It's hard to believe that working for energy independence would be such a difficult fight, but it is a fight I will keep waging each and every day.
• Republican U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes is running for re-election in North Carolina's 8th congressional district.
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