Ripon Forum


Vol. 46, No. 2

View Print Edition

In this Edition

My last job on the Hill was for a Congressman who was elected as part of the GOP Class of ’94. I joined his staff in August of 1995 – well after the first 100 days that saw votes on every plank of the Contract with America, but still in the middle of the Republican Revolution. It […]

Lessons of Conventions Past

“As Mitt Romney looks for a running mate, the veteran newsman suggests he look to 1976 as an example of what, and what not, to do.”

Defusing the DEBT BOMB

In an adaptation from his new book, the Oklahoma Senator delivers a stern warning about America’s fiscal future.

The President’s Malaria Initiative: A Great (GOP) Success Story

A former U.S. Ambassador and Congressman, a current Senior Director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition who says, “These days, we hear so much about government programs that don’t work. But we shouldn’t let these stories obscure what is working well.”

The Regulatory Stranglehold on Our Economy

The current deluge of regulations is diverting billions from business investment to complying with government dictates.

The Regulatory Assault on American Competiveness

“When ideology and politics interferes with rational science-based rulemaking, job-killing overregulation is the result.” A Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Creating Energy Solutions for a Strong, Secure and Sustainable Future

“We are seeing the emergence of new energy sources and innovations that can be the catalysts for a stronger, more secure and sustainable future. Unfortunately, after years of debate, the United States lacks a coherent national energy strategy that can put our country on a path toward economic growth, global competitiveness and environmental improvement.”

The Paradox We Face

A conversation in the grocery aisle about the price of bread and the intent of the Founding Fathers.

Reclaiming Our Future

“We have succeeded in changing the conversation in Washington from “how much can we spend” to “how much must we cut?” But before any progress is made in reclaiming our future, the policies that have made our economy worse have to be replaced.”

A Government Takeover and a Call to Act

The owner of an automobile dealership and representative of Pennsylvania’s 3rd District in the House. “If we are going to grow our economy, we need to shrink our government, repealing the overreaching and industry-threatening regulations that are building barriers to our economic recovery while burying us further into debt.”

Putting an End to Budget Gimmickry

The first term Congresswoman from Alabama discusses the bill she has introduced to restore accountability to the budgeting process. “Recent polls indicate that as few as one in ten Americans think Congress is doing a good job. The cause of that discontent is often rooted in a fundamental problem: the American people don’t trust what […]

Q&A with Arthur Brooks

The President of the American Enterprise Institute discusses his new book, The Road to Freedom, and the message it holds for today.

Ripon Profile of Dean Heller

The Senator from the State of Nevada discusses the challenges facing the people of his home state and what Washington should be doing to help them in their lives.

Creating Energy Solutions for a Strong, Secure and Sustainable Future

cdooleyrf

Ensuring affordable and reliable energy is one of the biggest challenges facing America, but also one of our greatest opportunities. Tough national issues include rising energy demand, joblessness and economic weakness, energy insecurity and inefficiency, and uncertainty about future supplies. At the same time, we are seeing the emergence of new energy sources and innovations that can be the catalysts for a stronger, more secure and sustainable future. Unfortunately, after years of debate, the United States lacks a coherent national energy strategy that can put our country on a path toward economic growth, global competitiveness and environmental improvement.

Americans agree. An overwhelming majority of voters (94 percent) believe that a “comprehensive energy policy is essential to building a strong economy, creating new jobs, and making America more competitive with other countries,” according to a national survey conducted in February by Clarus Research Group.

A comprehensive energy policy must maximize all domestic sources, including oil and natural gas; renewables and alternatives; coal, nuclear and greater use of technologies such as combined heat and power (CHP). It needs to prioritize greater energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industrial facilities. It must use economically sound approaches to encourage the adoption of diverse energy sources, including energy recovery from plastics and other materials and renewable sources. And it must contain balanced regulatory policies and permitting practices that protect the environment while allowing use of our vast resources.

A comprehensive energy policy must maximize all domestic sources, including oil and natural gas; renewables and alternatives; coal, nuclear and greater use of technologies such as combined heat and power.

The business of chemistry can be part of the answer. Through chemistry, we are creating solutions that address each of the nation’s major energy challenges.

Jobs and Economic Growth

During a time of high unemployment, chemistry is transforming domestic energy into a stronger economy and new jobs. Many chemical companies are exploring new U.S. plants or significant expansions. In fact, our use of expanded domestic ethane supplies, made possible by revolutionary shale gas finds, could lead to 400,000 new U.S. jobs, $132 billion in U.S. economic output and $4.4 billion in local, state and federal tax revenue every year, according to an American Chemical Council study.

Since chemistry is the foundation for the manufacturing sector, our improved outlook is driving an American manufacturing renaissance that will lead to more robust output, greater international competitiveness and new jobs in communities across the nation. By making the most of shale gas, we can support new manufacturing capacity here in the United States, good high-paying jobs and economic growth and prosperity for years to come.

Energy Security and Diversity

Chemistry also enables more diverse energy sources, which strengthens national energy security. Chemistry makes it possible to produce more kinds of domestic energy and electricity. From enhanced oil and gas production methods and battery and fuel innovations to energy recovery technologies that unlock the energy in discarded plastics and other materials to renewable energy solutions, chemistry is expanding America’s domestic energy portfolio. With more energy types and technologies to rely on, the nation can be more energy secure.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Sustainable technologies like energy efficiency solutions and renewable energy innovations are made possible by chemistry. High performance insulations and windows, wind turbines, solar panels, and biofuels, even lightweight packaging, more efficient fuels and lightweight auto parts that reduce energy needs in shipping and transportation all start with chemistry. A recent ACC analysis found that the products of chemistry help save up to 10.9 quadrillion BTUs of energy annually, enough to power, heat and cool up to 56 million households or run up to 135 million vehicles every year.

To make the most of America’s energy resources and compete with the rest of the world, policymakers must maximize energy efficiency’s contribution to the nation’s energy portfolio. Given federal and state budget realities, however, public policies must look beyond traditional government subsidies and identify new ways to encourage energy efficiency, such as adopting updated energy efficiency building codes and supporting more combined heat and power (CHP) at industrial facilities.

To make the most of America’s energy resources and compete with the rest of the world, policymakers must maximize energy efficiency’s contribution to the nation’s energy portfolio.

The business of chemistry accounts for nearly one-third of all CHP used in manufacturing. Because most CHP facilities use natural gas to create two forms of energy – electricity and steam – with the same amount of fuel, they are often twice as efficient as older coal‐burning electric utilities. By 2030, the U.S. can meet 20 percent of its electricity needs from high-efficiency CHP, according to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Yet today, electricity markets are controlled in a way that prevents CHP power from industrial operators from selling their excess power back to the grid. Regulators must remove artificial barriers to industrial CHP and other kinds of distributed electricity generation.

The Right Policy Roadmap

Meeting our national goals – economic growth and new jobs, innovative industries, and global competitiveness – will require a truly “all of the above” approach. We need the President, Congress, Governors, state legislators and regulators to focus on developing policies that will help America maximize its own vast resources — natural, intellectual and technological. And we must leverage the innovation and ambition of the private sector. By combining sound energy policies with innovation and the ambition of the private sector, we can compete and win in the global economy.   RF

___________________________________

Cal Dooley is president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council. From 1991 to 2004, he represented the 20th District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives.