ALL OF THE ABOVE!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

ALL OF THE ABOVE?

by Steve Fair

     The Oklahoma Republican Party will be hosting the Southern Republican Leadership Conference May 21-23, 2015 in Oklahoma City.  Speakers that have confirmed are potential 2016 presidential candidates Rick Santorum, Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal, and Carly Fiorina.  There will no doubt be many others.  2016 could be the largest field of presidential candidates since 1940 when nine Republicans ran for the Republican nomination.  Other keynote speakers include T. Boone Pickens and several other members of the energy sector.  These businesspeople will be addressing America’s need for a comprehensive energy policy. 

     The events will be held at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.  Explaining the significance of the 2015 event, OKGOP Chairman Dave Weston said, "We're honored to have been chosen by the RNC as the host city for the 2015 SRLC. And this year's event, unlike any other in quite a few years, will be an opportunity to witness the Republican Party’s presidential hopefuls descend upon Oklahoma City precisely at the time they begin to make announcements for their candidacy and begin kicking off in their campaigns."  The theme of the conference is, “Energizing America.” 

     Why does America need a common sense Energy Policy?  Because President Obama and his administration has declared war on fossil fuels.  Coal was the first target.  On page 19 of his Climate Action Plan, Obama writes, “Going forward, we will promote fuel-switching from coal to gas for electricity production.”  To expedite that transition, the Obama administration tightened restrictions on carbon emissions, which directly impact coal fired plants.  Switching to natural gas may be a great strategy for the future, but the reality is almost 40% of America’s electricity today is generated by coal fired plants.  When you hamstring an industry with regulations so they produce less of their product, the price goes up.  Electricity costs are at an all time high and until the restrictions are loosened, they will continue to increase.

     The president has been quick to take credit for the boom in the oil and gas sector, even though he has opposed drilling on public lands and the completion of the Keystone pipeline.       Harold Hamm of Continental Resources believes that simply opening up drilling on public lands could be the solution needed to pay off the huge national debt.  "I truly believe the federal government could over time raise $18 trillion in royalties." That's more than the U.S. national debt, Hamm says.  Hamm was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal in 2011.  That interview can be accessed at http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204226204576602524023932438.

     President Obama calls his energy policy the All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy.  On the White House website, it states the strategy…” is making America more energy independent and supporting jobs. Since the President took office, domestic energy-related emissions have fallen to their lowest level in 20 years, and our dependence on foreign oil is at a 20-year low — and declining. America is producing more oil, gas, and renewable energy, and the U.S. is becoming more energy efficient overall. These trends are increasing our energy security, cutting our carbon pollution, and enhancing our economic growth.” Several times in recent months, the president has taken credit for the boom in the oil sector. 

     Obama taking credit for the oil/gas boom is like a dog running out in front of a caravan of cars prancing along like he is leading the procession.  It’s just a coincidence the dog is in front and it’s the same with the President.  Obama is no friend of oil/gas/coal.  He has done little or nothing to help the fossil fuel energy sector in America.  He has bent over backwards to help the ‘renewable’ energy sector, aka wind and bio-fuel.  Oil/gas has grown in spite of the president and not because of him. Fact is,the vast majority of Americans still have vehicles that run on gasoline and the demand for fossil fuel worldwide is at it’s highest. 

     American taxpayers subsidize the ‘green fuels’ by paying more for the food we consume.  Much of the corn that in the past was used in food processing is now going into our gas tanks.  We pay more at the grocery shelf for the privilege of buying ethanol.  Ten(10) percent (and soon to be 15%) of the gasoline going into your tank is corn liquor/moonshine and you are paying for the privilege to burn it.  The next President of the United States needs to understand fossil fuels may be the answer to not only our energy issues, but our debt issues.  We need a common sense approach to energy in America.  The goal of the SRLC next May will be to help educate the eventual GOP nominee on the importance of ALL energy to America.