We are, at our core, a petroleum-based nation and will need to stay that way until clean, economical alternatives prove themselves as a more viable alternative than fossil fuels in the marketplace. Secondly, we have years of data to show that coal and nuclear power are safe, reliable, and extremely efficient sources for powering community energy needs. Virtually "free" sources, like solar, wind, and tidal power, are infinite in supply but have proven thus far less robust than others...but there is clearly a future in exploring these options.

I, therefore, support exploring and drilling for our primary energy source--petroleum--on our own land (ANWR, the Northern Plains States, etc.) to create thousands of jobs and ease our reliance on foreign oil. I also support bringing online more nuclear power and coal burning plants while simultaneously continuing the research into innovations like "trash-to-energy" (TTE) facilities and increasing the power yield from solar, wind, and tidal power. While I do not oppose ethanol as an alternative fuel, I do oppose government influence in its ability to survive in the market.