Energy

A carefully crafted national energy policy is vital to our economic well-being as well as the preservation of our environment.

As Senator, I will promote the use of energy efficient technologies, alternative energy, and renewable resources such as bio-fuels, wind, tidal, hydropower, solar, and hydrogen fuel cells; as well as increased alternative energy production and a reduction in our dependence on foreign countries. Farmers, bankers and small investors in the mid-west have begun forming collectives to develop bio-fuels. I believe that our State can and should do the same, and that it is the Federal Government's responsibility, under our Social Contract to encourage the development bio-fuels here in Maine and throughout the Country. Maine's motto has long been "I Lead." We can and should lead in the development of energy efficient technologies.

Recognizing that the shift to Alternative Energy must be a transition, rather than an abrupt dislocation, my vision for our energy producers includes additional emphasis on technology to make our use of coal more acceptable while reducing its harmful emissions, more responsible approaches to the drilling, refining, and transportation of oil and gas and a much stronger program including performance based incentives for conservation measures which preserve our scarce natural resources. My plan would be to phase out the use of fossil fuels while immediately implementing new energy technologies as soon as they come on line, allowing our industries and manufacturers access to the raw material and power needed to maintain good jobs for our working men and women. In order to achieve that end, I would immediately suspend the current subsidies and tax breaks which are given to those entities seeking to expand the use of fossil fuels and offer them to those exploring alternative energy efficient technologies.

Moreover, I believe it is wrong for oil companies, energy producers and transmission companies to make windfall profits while enjoying the protections, high barriers to entry, or even monopolies, on their respective energy sources. This behavior, as seen most recently in the obscene profits of the oil companies this year, and electric utilities in the past, is unacceptable. It is right that Corporations make a profit, but they too have an obligation under the social contract to provide for the common good particularly in industries which are heavily subsidized and monopolistic by nature.