Jim Steiner: One More Time: A National Energy Plan to Achieve Energy Independence

  Steiner for CongressP.O. Box 2008Concord, NH   03302FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Per Jim Steiner, "a detailed national energy plan for the United States, aimed at achieving energy independence, is essential, for all Americans, for business, for the strength of our dollar in the global community and as to the intersection of energy with national security given our current dependence on foreign oil sources."  Jim's focus, below, on just such a plan, addresses issues for which legislation is pending now that could make a difference, and would, if Jim Steiner was the congressman from the 2nd congressional district.Steiner stated as to short-term and long-term, the following principles make sense in achieving energy independence within the decade:Immediate steps, summer 2008:Suspend the 18.4 Cents/Gallon Gas Tax for Summer 2008: According to Jim Steiner, "if I were the congressman for the 2nd district, today, I would be pursuing an effort to suspend for the summer of 2008 the 18.4 cents/gallon gasoline tax to provide interim short-term relief.  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 steps that encourage vacationers to make the drive to N.H. are important to our economy."Open the Ethanol Market to Reduce Gas Prices Now:  Jim Steiner supports making ethanol subject to the open market. "Congress has the opportunity to repeal the tariff on ethanol to reduce the prices paid for the ethanol blended into our fuels.  This effort is another interim effort towards relieving the stress at the pumps.  Passing such legislation would also provide nearly immediatel relief at the gas pumps given the immediate impact of market forces in driving down the ethanol costs."Release 1/3d of the strategic reserve into the market:Members of both political parties have spoken about this effort, but have failed to pursue it.  The volume of this release would drive down the price per barrel, and provide a rollback in prices, at least for the immediate short-term.Long Term:  The United States Must Focus on Achieving Domestic Energy Independence and It Must Become a Priority of the Same Status as was Putting a Man on the MoonDeveloping New Refineries:  Steiner sees new refineries as an essential piece of a domestic energy indpendence policy, stating "the proposed legislation introduced in May 2008 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."Limited Drilling in ANWR: Jim Steiner on drilling in Alaska: "I support limited development of the oil resources in teh Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR).  I was stationed in Alaska while in the military and observed personally the Alaska pipeline.  It is a model of what occurs when environmentalists and engineers work together.  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 within the north coast of Alaska."Allow States to Authorize Outer Continental Shelf Drilling:  Jim Steiner supports allowing states to decide to develop their coastal resources.  "Allowing drilling 100 miles from our shores," said Steiner, "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 by U.S. companies.  I support 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."Authorizing Nuclear Fuel Recycling and New Nuclear Facilities:  Jim Steiner sees nuclear energy as historically safe and efficient. "Not just the development of new nuclear facilities as a supporting branch of our domestic energy plan is needed," states Steiner, "but 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."Long Term Solutions Include Promoting Alternative Energy:  "I do not see the city of New York powered by wood pellets," noted Steiner, "but alternative energy such as wind, hydro, wood pellets and other sources have a valuable place in our economy and I would continue to support their development through tax incentives.""There is legislation pending as to all of the above issues," noted Steiner, "and Congress needs members that will focus on energy independence to benefit the people of the 2nd district and this country."