Our country has abundant sources of energy, but our government has chosen to keep us dependent on foreign energy sources.

“Drill here, drill now” is not just a campaign slogan. It is what we need to do to reduce our dependence on external sources of oil. I will work to open drilling off of our coasts, and begin processing our abundant resources of shale in the western states to produce oil for our energy needs.

I will work to begin the construction of new nuclear power plants. We have not brought a new nuclear power plant online since TVA-Watts Bar began operation in 1996. France gets over 80% of their electricity from nuclear power, and the Navy has been operating hundreds of nuclear reactors for almost 50 years without major incidents. Reprocessing of the spent nuclear fuel will greatly reduce the need for large waste storage needs.

I will fight to defend the coal industry. Coal is one of our most abundant resources, and technology continues to keep coal at the forefront as a clean, efficient energy option with broad applications.

I will support the free-market development of new and alternative energy sources, but I will not support any policy that seeks to force alternative energy into the market by choking out our economically viable and abundant energy sources. Federal level EPA regulation is unconstitutional, and in most cases redundant, as the states have become very effective at providing regulation that works for their individual economies.

America is a country that runs on energy. The best way to ensure low prices and consistent supplies is to use the abundance of energy sources we have domestically in combination with a long term research and development program into alternative sources of energy.