Americans for American Energy Act of 2008'

Update: Welcome QandO readers! I'd like to thank the owners of one of the larger blogs in the pond for noticing the small fish every once in a while. As long as it's not because you're hungry...

Also known as H.R. 6384 it's a new and comprehensive energy policy bill that combines 'green' fuel and power technologies like biofuels, wind and solar power with expanded production of traditional sources of energy like offshore drilling, nuclear, coal and shale.

From the bill:

It is the policy of the United States that--

(1) the United States is blessed with abundant energy resources on the outer Continental Shelf and has developed a comprehensive framework of environmental laws and regulations and fostered the development of state-of-the-art technology that allows for the responsible development of these resources for the benefit of its citizenry;

(2) adjacent States are required by the circumstances to commit significant resources in support of exploration, development, and production activities for mineral resources on the outer Continental Shelf, and it is fair and proper for a portion of the receipts from such activities to be shared with Adjacent States and their local coastal governments;

(3) the existing laws governing the leasing and production of the mineral resources of the outer Continental Shelf have reduced the production of mineral resources, have preempted Adjacent States from being sufficiently involved in the decisions regarding the allowance of mineral resource development, and have been harmful to the national interest;

(4) the national interest is served by granting the Adjacent States more options related to whether or not mineral leasing should occur in the outer Continental Shelf within their Adjacent Zones;

(5) it is not reasonably foreseeable that exploration of a leased tract located more than 25 miles seaward of the coastline, development and production of a natural gas discovery located more than 25 miles seaward of the coastline, or development and production of an oil discovery located more than 50 miles seaward of the coastline will adversely affect resources near the coastline;

(6) transportation of oil from a leased tract might reasonably be foreseen, under limited circumstances, to have the potential to adversely affect resources near the coastline if the oil is within 50 miles of the coastline, but such potential to adversely affect such resources is likely no greater, and probably less, than the potential impacts from tanker transportation because tanker spills usually involve large releases of oil over a brief period of time; and

(7) among other bodies of inland waters, the Great Lakes, Long Island Sound, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, Albemarle Sound, San Francisco Bay, and Puget Sound are not part of the outer Continental Shelf, and are not subject to leasing by the Federal Government for the exploration, development, and production of any mineral resources that might lie beneath them.

It appears that someone infected several members of the US Congress with a generous helping of common sense. A comprehensive energy policy that combines expanding existing technology to catch up with current and future demand as well as funding and development of new and emerging tech to bring it up to speed and iron out the kinks, flaws and outright 'vaporware'.

More than a few experts have been saying for some time now that so called 'green' power schemes are highly unreliable or simply not up to meeting the demands we'd be putting on them if we outright switched. Wind isn't consistent enough, solar isn't efficient enough, biofuels use more energy than they produce, hydrogen fuel cells need more infrastructure and greater efficiency and electric vehicles need better storage capacity (batteries) and put even more demand on an already strained grid.

I'll be reading this bill in full to see if I spot anything that seems hinky, but a cursory perusal gets my approval and I'll be urging my Representative (Ms. Thelma Drake) to add her name to it. I ask you to read it and pass it along to your rep or senator.

Update: I felt it only prudent to mention that Fox News' Junk Science section has a piece up about T. Boone Pickens and his plans for constructing billions of dollars worth of wind farms and trying to get us to switch to (less efficient) natural gas to power our cars. You almost can't avoid his ads on TV lately, detailing how our consumption of foreign oil has increased as our own domestic energy production has been curtailed.

I won't attempt to do a better job than Fox has of excoriating Pickens' claims and plans. Just go and read it. I do take exception with them calling his plan 'Swift Boating'.

Granted, Pickens was the man who bank rolled the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and offered a bounty of $1 million if Kerry could prove them wrong. But the term 'swift boating' in this article seems to lead one to believe that it means someone making false claims. As I recall, the SBVfT were never proven to be liars and the bounty was never claimed. It was the liberal media that turned the term around and made it into what it has become: someone making false accusations in order to tear someone or something down.

Update the Second: Here's the email I sent to my Representative...

Ms. Drake,

I've recently learned of a new bill called the `Americans for American Energy Act of 2008' or H.R. 6384. I'm not sure if the so-called leadership in the House will ever allow this bill to come to the floor for a vote, but if it does, I urge you to vote 'Yes' on it. I've been reading through the bill over the last several days and I find it to be a very comprehensive piece of legislation for doing what needs to be done to reduce the costs of energy, wean ourselves off of foreign sources of oil, develop new technologies and in general actually have an energy policy that makes sense for both the long and short term.

Virginia has quite a chunk of the OCS real estate and would greatly benefit in jobs and revenue if this bill passed and allowed the exploration and development of offshore sources of oil and natural gas. Combine this with a previously proposed wind farm off the Eastern Shore and newer technologies like the ones which harness energy from tidal flow and wave action (being developed and implemented in Great Britain) and our state could become a leader in this area.

We cannot continue as we have been in our energy policies and something desperately needs to change. I believe very strongly that this bill is a large step in the right direction. I will be urging everyone I know to examine it and, if it meets their approval, to recommend it to their Representatives and Senators. This bill has already been brought to the attention of the owners of one of the larger political blogs, QandO.net, and has been suggested (by me) for mention during question and answer conference calls with the candidates.

Thank you for your time.