Congressional Candidate Jim Steiner Comments on Energy Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Congressional Candidate Jim Steiner Comments on Energy IssuesJim Steiner, Republican candidate for Congress in the 2nd district, today released his comments on proposed energyissues pending before Congress:  Steiner stated the following regarding current proposals: Suspend the 18.4 Cents/Gallon Gas Tax for Summer 2008:  "I agree with the efforts being undertaken to suspend for the summer of 2008 the 18.4 cents/gallon gasoline tax to provide interim short-term relief to rising gas prices.  Right now, 18.4 cents/gallon means a lot to the average consumer, and will mean a lot to areas of the country that rely on the tourism industry.  Much of the 2nd Congressional District is a tourist haven and immediate steps that encourage vacationers to make the drive to N.H. are critical."Open the Ethanol Market to Reduce Gas Prices Now:  "Congress has the opportunity to repeal the tariff on ethanol to reduce the prices paid for the ethanol blended into our fuels.  It is intended that the law will become effective within two weeks of passage.  This effort is another solution to the current prices on gasoline as this law would provide nearly immediate relief at the gas pumps because the price paid to purchase ethanol would become more competitive."Opening Domestic Energy Sources towards Reaching Energy Independence:  "Over the next few years, the following initiatives currently before Congress will move this country towards energy independence"H.R. 6139:  Developing New Refineries:  "This pending legislation provides for expediting the development of new refineries, perhaps the most essential part of any longer-term energy policy.  No matter the supply sources, the narrowest point in the movement of oil from wells to gas pumps is the current limitations in number of refineries and the volume they can produce.  It has been 30 years since the United States developed a refinery. It is past time to bring further refineries on board and to remove some of the regulatory bureacracy that prevents such development.  Like the Alaska pipeline, blending environmental concerns with national energy policy should allow for development of new refineries in a sound and economic manner."H.R. 6107:  Limited Drilling in ANWR: "I was stationed in Alaska while in the military and observed personally the Alaska pipeline.  It is a model of what working together can accomplish.  It is elevated where necessary so migratory animals can still move freely.  It is environmentally sound.  For these same reasons, now is the time to allow limited drilling, in limited locations, within the north coast of Alaska."H.R. 6108:  Allow States to Authorize Outer Continental Shelf Drilling:  "Allowing drilling 100 miles from our shores, and giving states the right to determine whether to allow the leasing of areas for development of natural gas or oil production in the outer continental shelf area 50-100 miles off shore makes sense.  Neighboring countries are taking advantage of the vast resources in the outer continental shelf while domestic laws prevent such development.  I support this legislation to allow for controlled development far off shore, and to grant states the authority to opt in to allowing such development in the zone 50-100 miles off shore."H.R. 6132:  Authorizing Nuclear Fuel Recycling:  "Up to 95 percent of spent fuel from reactors can be recycled and used again.  This reduces the footprint of the volume needing to be stored and opens up a new domestic market for the use of nuclear fuel."Nuclear Energy Remains a Part of Our National Policy:  "Bringing online new nuclear plants makes sense and should be promoted as this country moves towards independence from overseas markets regarding energy sources."Long Term Solutions Include Promoting Alternative Energy:  "Included in considerations to alternative energy is proposed law to extend the tax credit by five years to those invested in alternative energy development. I agree with this suggestion."