We should eliminate the Department of Energy, and the necessary functions that remain should be placed under the Interior and Commerce Departments, depending on the function served.

We have made great progress towards reducing our dependence on foreign oil, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and could get to independence within 5 to 10 years if we implement the programs discussed below (and on the "Infrastructure and Motor Fuels" tab in the index to the left).  Unfortunately, when Congress rescinded the EPCA oil export program in December 2015, our independence has been greatly delayed! We should not allow oil exports until we are only importing 10% of our annual crude oil needs. No one wants to be told what to do, or pay additional taxes, but if it is fair for all and protects our country, we have to do it.  This is truly a national security issue and could easily hurt our country the most in the shortest period of time. And, for some crazy reason, President Trump reversed the previous decision to phase out incandescent light bulbs. That was a very bad decision, and we must move forward with eliminating low wattage incandescent bulbs.

Also, Natural Gas is a key strategic building block for the US chemical industry, and we can't be shipping it out of the country or using it to produce power! Great, we are finding lots of new natural gas.  So, that helps secure our worldwide future in chemicals.   It seems we have no memory of problems as recently as 8 to 12 years ago with gas prices and gas supply and we are acting like immature teenagers who now have 'some money in thier pocket' and can't wait to spend it all.  Craziness!!!! NO NATURAL GAS OR CRUDE OIL EXPORTS (until crude oil imports are cut to below 10% of consumption) AND NO NEW UTILITY FACILITIES USING NATURAL GAS FOR ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION!!!!!

Unfortunately, the problems in Japan have caused a temporary setback for nuclear power, but who in their right mind would approve a plant on a coast where tsunami's and earthquakes are common?

We propose the following as an ENERGY POLICY since the United States surprisingly does not have one:

-        Electricity

·         New Power Plant permits will demand that:

-        For every 200 MW of Clean Coal Powerplants built, 800 MW of Nuclear Powerplant capacity must be built, essentially giving:

      -        20% of new, 'non-green technology' Power Plant  capacity being Clean Coal technology, and, 

      -        80% of new non-CO2 emitting 'green technology' Power Plant capacity being Nuclear technology

-        No new natural gas or oil fueled Power Plants be allowed permits

-        Wind, Solar, Tidal, and other ‘green’ power producing technologies can be built "at will" with a streamlined permitting process

·         Investment credits for:

-        New Nuclear Power Plants, may write off 115% of capital spent in the year spent

-        New ‘Clean Coal’ Power Plants, may write off 115% of capital spent in the year spent

-        New Wind, Solar, Tidal, and other ‘green’ power producing technologies, may write off 125% of capital spent in the year spent

-        Competitive other approved renewable resources, may write of f125% of capital spent in the year spent

·         All incandescent light bulbs 150 watts or less will have a $15 per bulb surcharge (which will go into the 'New Motor Vehicle Initiative' fund described below).  This surcharge will greatly accelerate the complete conversion from incandescent bulbs to compact florescent lamps (CFL) and/or LED lamps and reduce electricity consumption.  For example.  The EIA estimates that for 2010 home lighting used about 202 Gigawatt hours of electricity.  And, knowing that CFL's are about 75% more efficient that incandescent bulbs, and assuming that in the next 5 years 1/2 of all bulbs are CFL's, we would reduce home lighting electricity consumption by about 37.5%. LED lamps are from 5% to 30% more efficient than CFL's, and last about 20 years, or about twice as long a CFL's. That means the utility industry would have to generate about 75,750 GWhrs less electricity.  And, the EIA estimates that the US utility industry will retire about 236,000 GWhrs of capacity over the next 5 years.  So, only about 2/3 of the retired capacity would have to be replaced.  And, the reduction of 75,750 GWhrs of consumption and this generation, would eliminate about 75,750,000 tons/year of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) as well.  Worth doing - heck yes!

-        New Production/Supply

·         Energy produced from renewable resources will be allowed to write off 125% of capital spent in the year spent

·         New Liquefied Natural Gas IMPORT terminals will be allowed to write off 125% of capital spent in the year spent and will be provided with a streamlined permitting process

·         Drilling for additional reserves is in the National Security Interest and the federal government will not allow any state to block exploration and drilling, as defined below:

-        States may not prohibit offshore drilling conducted more than 1 mile off their coast.  There is no reason the Gulf Coast, Alaska, etc. are the only areas with current offshore drilling.  ALL resources available will be used to make the US less dependent on foreign hydrocarbons

-        By law, the US will be allowed to drill in ANWR, and many other reserves, other than a select group of locations, while complying with stringent environmental guidelines

-        Accelerated incentives and permitting to develop and produce other proven new reserves and will be allowed to write off 115% of capital spent in the year spent