Energy independence requires bold goals, leadership ~ By Herman Cain

A bold objective would be zero dependence on foreign oil!

We can do it if we maximize all of our own natural resources as I described in last week's commentary. We just need to streamline the government regulations that are holding us back.

I believe we can responsibly drill here now (oil), dig here now (coal) and develop safer and smaller nuclear facilities here now. In doing so, we can cut our energy dependence in half in 10 years on our way to energy independence.

A serious energy independence strategy would also curtail the rapidly escalating cost of gasoline and household energy costs, which are becoming a huge drain on consumers' discretionary income. The pain at the pump is just the beginning.

I will continue to stand by what I said last week in regard to Herman Cain's conceivable and achievable energy policy:

The brilliance of this article is in helping people to understand that when energy prices increase, it ripples through the economy. Energy prices are directly related to the prices you pay for groceries and the number of jobs that are available. So, isn't it just common sense to develop our own energy in America, create jobs, and avoid having to purchase energy resources from countries that don't like us?

Just before stopping at the grocery store yesterday morning, I noticed gas prices had gone up another nickle per gallon overnight. I was delighted that I had bought some gas the day before the latest price surge. But, my delight quickly fades as I go through the store to find that prices were going up, such as a pack of my favorite hotdogs that had increased from $3.99 to $4.49... Like Herman says, "The pain at the pump is just the beginning."

In this column, Herman Cain discusses Barack Obama's energy policy that was addressed last weekend in another teleprompter speech the President gave.  Herman points out the differences between what he had suggested last week in his column, and what the President is proposing, the point being that the President's plan can not do enough to lower our national security risk in a short enough time.

I am all for Herman Cain's suggestion for energy independence. It is imperative that we put bold energy policies in place as soon as possible.

But here is my real concern: Will it be soon enough? I'm just sayin'...

RELATED STORY:
Who needs their oil, anyway? ~ By Herman Cain



Energy independence requires bold goals, leadership

HERMAN CAIN

By Herman Cain

April 04, 2011 ~ 1:00 am Eastern

© 2011

The president believes in energy security. I believe in energy independence. In case you missed the president's weekly radio address, here is what the White House released on energy security, so I will not be accused of not understanding what they meant. The title of the address was, "Energy Security Can Only Come If We Invest in Cleaner Fuels and Greater Efficiency."

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama discussed his strategy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and secure our nation's energy future. When the President was elected, America imported eleven million barrels of oil a day. This week he announced a bold, but achievable goal of cutting this number by one-third by 2025.

To achieve this goal we will increase responsible domestic oil and gas development in the short term, while also increasing efficiency and harnessing new technologies including biofuels, natural gas, and advanced batteries. …

Reducing our dependence on foreign oil in the foreseeable future is a key to bringing down energy costs and especially gasoline costs, the average price of which has doubled in the last two years. I think that's what he meant by secure our nation's energy future, but I am not sure. You really can't tell from the words he used, but they sounded good.

The president proposes to reduce our dependence by one-third in 14 years. That's not a bold goal using electric cars, alternative fuels, advanced batteries and all the wind and solar power we can muster. Remember, those batteries have to be recharged. That means traditional electricity, which is generated from coal and natural gas-fired power plants.

That's an anemic goal! In the early 1970s, we were nearly 25 percent dependent on foreign oil. Today we are nearly 70 percent dependent on foreign oil. Reducing our dependence by one-third would still mean we are nearly 50 percent dependent on foreign oil. That level still leaves oil dependency as a national security risk, especially with what's happening in the Middle East.

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