Energy Policy

By Dirk Allen Konopik

Position Statement and Rationale

Issue Stance: Non-Negotiable

Strategy: Negotiable (Open to Knowledgeable Counsel)

Issue Stance:

Take bold measures to immediately reduce foreign energy dependence. Use our nation's known natural resources and actively seek out additional resource sites.

Enact common sense energy policies that promote viable, and cost efficient, options for Americans (fossil fuels, alternative energy, etc.).

Assist our nation's energy providers in increasing their global competitiveness for the purpose of decreasing America's energy costs.

Strategy:

Meet with leaders from various energy-related fields and American bureaucrats to work towards implementing viable energy options that can address America's dire energy situation as soon as possible.

Seek to immediately open currently restricted American natural resource sites and promote our nation's energy self-reliance.

Rationale:

1. The majority of Americans cannot afford the absurd energy fluctuations that have driven gas prices up to nearly $5.00 a gallon in 2011. America has vast known reserves of natural resources, albeit currently restricted, with the high probability of significant additional reserves that are yet to be discovered. If there was ever a time to begin using these reserves and actively seeking out new resource locations, it would be now.

2. With a significant amount of our nation's fossil fuels being imported from foreign nations, the increased political turmoil in many of the supplier regions have created an unstable business environment. This constant political/business instability greatly increases energy prices for Americans and American businesses.

3. Due to international competition, the American government must remove unnecessary economic hindrances on American energy companies while retaining our nation's high moral and ethical business standards. The reality is, if an American company cannot compete globally due to hindrances enacted by the American government, that company will take steps to ensure a profit can still be made. This generally means prices are raised and passed on to the customer, which would be us.

4. We must work together to immediately implement energy policies that will benefit all those involved (America, Americans, and American Businesses).