Energy Reform

The problems:
1. The US is dependent on fossil fuels--a polluting and rapidly disappearing resource the need for which forces us to do business with regimes that reject modernization and citizens’ rights.
2. We lack good paying jobs for both high school and college grads (yes, they’re related, keep reading).

The solutions: More responsible short term solutions while we work on sustainable, alternate fuel sources for our future. These alternative energy sources include:
1. Giant solar collectors in the West and Southwest (NV, AZ, NM, parts of UT, CA, TX)
2. Giant wind farms
3. Giant wave farms in coastal states
4. Hydroelectric plants
5. Biomass fuels

How to do it:
1. Develop interim sources of energy i.e. natural gas, nuclear, coal -> coal gasification).
2. Conservation – if you use more, then you pay more for electricity and fuel. (Could do a private citizen cap and trade program as well as corporate—see below.)
3. Reduce oil use to match what we/Canada produce (no imports).
4. Within four year 25% of all our energy is clean and we do whatever it takes to get there.
5. Congress passes clear, tough, but achievable emissions standards and companies are issued credits to the allowable limits.
6. Companies under their quota sell excess credits to the feds. Companies over their limit purchase credits from the Feds at a premium. The surplus revenue helps to fund development of alternative energy resources: wind farms, solar collectors, hydroelectric plants, etc. (Items 1. & 2. are a new twist on “cap and trade”.)
7. Cost sharing of alternative energy production by public and private entities to produce electricity that is cabled to regional stations in USA and under both oceans for export (if possible—if not technically feasible, we export the equipment required for other nations to launch their own alternative energy production).

The Advantages:
1. Energy independence.
2. A cleaner environment.
3. Inexpensive, renewable energy supplies forever.
8. Jobs created: engineers, architects, CAD programmers, scientists, computer techs, administrative staff, HR specialists, construction workers, mechanics, accountants, international relations specialists, service staff (food, maintenance, grounds and landscaping, etc.)
9. High schools and colleges develop training programs specifically designed for energy plants to graduate skilled employees.

How to pay for it:
1. Reposition some military spending (see military section).
2. Use emissions credit revenues to provide cost sharing grants to private sector companies.