Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

We're in the middle of the worst recession in 25 years, and families across New Jersey are struggling to pay their gas and electric bills. At the same time, our reliance on oil from foreign countries such as Saudi Arabia is threatening our Nation's long-term national and economic security.

The solution to these problems is clear: we need to develop alternative sources of energy that are cheaper to produce, free us from our reliance on foreign oil, and are safe for the environment. But we also need to recognize that this transformation won't happen overnight, and that we have to find new ways to address our energy problems while this transition occurs.

There are many common sense steps that we could take right away to increase our energy production and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, such as: building new nuclear power plants; investing in alternative energy technologies; and finding new sources of oil and natural gas in our own country.

Democrats in Washington have a different idea. Last year, Democrats in the House of Representatives passed an $800 billion dollar cap and tax energy plan that would force businesses to cut jobs, increase gas and electricity prices, and raise taxes on New Jersey's families by up to $3,100 dollars. Raising taxes, slashing jobs, and making gas and electricity more expensive is not the way to create energy independence.

The Agosta Plan

Here are some of the steps we could take immediately to bring down energy prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil:

Build New Nuclear Power Plants. Nuclear energy is safe, cheap, and emissions-free. But we haven't built a new nuclear plant in the United States in more than 30 years. If we're really serious about increasing energy production in America without doing harm to the environment, increasing our nuclear power output is the first place we should start.

Invest In New And Alternative Energy Sources. Increasing our use of clean coal, solar and wind power, and alternative fuels are just some of the ways we can reduce our dependence on oil and fuel economic growth in New Jersey. We should provide tax breaks and investment incentives to companies that are developing these new energy sources.

Increase Domestic Oil And Natural Gas Production. A sensible energy policy recognizes that our country will have to rely on oil and gas for the foreseeable future. In order to reduce our dependence on foreign energy and to reduce prices, we should increase domestic production of oil and gas by opening the Outer Continental Shelf and other areas to drilling and exploration.

No New Taxes On Energy. We cannot tax our way out of this problem. Job-killing energy taxes that will increase gas and electricity prices are the last thing we need in the middle of a recession.

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