Frosh look at energy independence
Newly elected members of congress debate energy
security at Kennedy School
By
Doug Gavel
Kennedy School Communications
U.S. energy consumption
will continue to rise in the years ahead, and along with
it, America's dependence on foreign energy sources. That
was the message delivered Nov. 30 by former Congressman
Philip Sharp to a group of 36 congressional freshmen
attending the 17th biennial Program for Newly Elected
Members of Congress at the Kennedy School.
Moderating a panel on energy and national security,
Sharp pointed out that the laudable goals of economic
growth, environmental protection, and national security
"often come into conflict with one another, and that is
one of the enduring problems in getting comprehensive
energy policy in the United States."
Fellow panelist Vernon Ehlers, U.S. representative
(Michigan, District 3), described how dependence on
foreign oil is a security risk, and he challenged the
new lawmakers to push aggressively to develop new
domestic energy sources. "We are sending gazillions to
countries that are not very friendly to us, some of whom
are supporting terrorists, and that doesn't make any
sense," he said. "Technologies exist today that can
improve efficiency and produce clean domestic petroleum
substitutes. The cost of action today is far smaller
than the cost of inaction."
Former U.S. senator Gary Hart warned the new members
that "cheap oil" really isn't as cheap as some may
think, once the costs of American lives and U.S.
military deployments abroad are factored into the
equation.
"Is the life of my son or daughter worth losing so
that my neighbor can drive his SUV?" Hart asked. "It is
incumbent on all of you to tell your constituents the
truth. I would wager that if the American people [were]
told the truth they would be much more inclined to
change their habits."
Linda Stuntz, the former deputy secretary of energy
(1989-93), told the new members that energy policy is
more a regional issue than a partisan one, and urged
them to work across the aisle to forge workable
solutions. "You've got to build a coalition from the
middle out to build a consensus," she said.
Stuntz emphasized growing concerns over the rising
price of natural gas, saying that "Wall Street is
telling you that we have a problem with natural gas, and
I would urge you to keep an eye on this."
The new members attended sessions focusing on an
array of public policy challenges - from the federal
budget to terrorism - led by Kennedy School academics,
practitioners, and current and former members of
Congress. The program was sponsored by the Institute of
Politics.
doug_gavel@harvard.edu
Article Appeared in Harvard
University Gazette
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/12.07/04-energy.html
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