Energy and the Republican Party

Conservative Values in Action

June 2012

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Energy and the Republican Party 2

executive summary

The current American Energy Paradigm exists in opposition to core conservative values. The century-old paradigm²ostensibly gasoline powered automobiles and the national electrical grid comprised of regional power plants and transmission lines²LVDFRPPRQWKHPHLQ$PHULFD¶VFRPPRQSUREOHPV x U.S. Foreign policy is inconsistent and significantly motivated by maintaining access to oil rather than promoting global political self-determination; x Our national security is threatened by the vulnerability of the national electrical grid from terrorists and space weather. Additionally, our military bases have little capability to operate in the absence of the grid; x The DepartPHQWRI'HIHQVHLVVSUHDGWKLQDQGRXUWURRSVDUHSXWLQKDUP¶V way securing access to oil; x The U.S. economy is in dire need of manufacturing jobs, undermining U.S. economic strength and the American family; x Small businesses and conglomerates alike struggle to turn a profit while infrastructure costs from transportation and utilities continue to rise; and, x Family budgets are strained by high gas and utility prices, which also put inflationary pressures on the products we buy, further limiting spending power. Though there is little discussion about it in Republican circles, the current American Energy Paradigm is inconsistent with core conservative values: it does not reflect our respect for human dignity; perpetuating it does not display prudence; maintaining it is often unjust; and its existence accelerates the growth of centralized governmental power and the influence of large corporations. Yet the GOP has largely ignored energy as a focal point for the party, ceding the issue to the Democrats who traditionally link energy policy to climate change. The confluence of American woes and the decidedly un-conservative impacts of the American Energy Paradigm has created an opportunity for the Grand Old Party to reassert its belief in core conservative values, while simultaneously advocating policies that will improve the lives of present and future citizens. The goals of this report are to: 1. Define a conservative point of view on energy in America; 2. Focus GOP creativity on energy solutions that match our values; 3. Engage and inspire the GOP around energy; and,

Energy and the Republican Party 3

4. Link conservative values and energy use, for today and tomorrow. And to do all these things in the belief that the development of a comprehensive Republican energy policy, consistent with conservative values, best meets the future needs of America and her citizens.

Energy and the Republican Party 4

table of contents

Focus on Values 30 Introduction 5 Be Personal and Relevant 31 Who Is the Republican Party 6 The Tea Party 31 History of Conservative Thought 7 How Americans Win 34 Some Conservative Values 8 Oil: Prices and Crisis 35 Energy in America: Trend Analysis 11 Energy Matters (Climate Change National Security 12 'RHVQ¶W 36

Foreign Policy 14 Instruments of Inertia 37

Support for the Troops 16 Jobs 39

The Economy 18 Change is Expensive 39

Business Profitability 20 Change Takes Time 40

Community Living 22 Subsidies 40

America the Beautiful 24 Media 41

Biblical Stewardship 24 Democrats 42

Outdoorsmen 27 Conclusion 42

Eminent Domain 28 Appendix I: Pondering the Future 44

How Republicans Can Win 29 Appendix II: Compromise and the American Political System 48 Seize the Political Momentum 29 End Notes 49

Energy and the Republican Party 5 introduction x $PHULFD¶V ZLOGHUQHVV DQG LWV ZLOGOLIH ZKHUH $PHULFDQV WXUQ IRU D PRPHQW¶V UHVSLWH DUH Over the last four centuries each leading global being erased by electrical wires and mining. economic power has ridden an emergent fuel resource x The U.S. is funding both sides of the war on into supremacy: Holland in the 17th century with wind terror²paying billions of dollars in oil revenues and hydro power; Britain in the 18th and 19th century to hostile countries that will recycle those with abundant coal; and in the last century, the United revenues to attack American troops and 6WDWHV ZLWK RLO  ,Q IDFW LW¶V QRW K\SHUEROH WR VD\ WKDW America at large. The U.S. is funding the very America was propelled to prominence in the 20th century threat America opposes. by our use of oil and electricity.1 x Utility bills increase on average 7% a year, and The downside so far has been that each country yet Americans remain vulnerable, through no able to seize a unique energy opportunity has lacked the fault of their own, to power outages. ZKHUHZLWKDOWRPDQDJHWKHQH[WRQH2QHJHQHUDWLRQ¶V The wasteful and thoughtless use of energy is the LQQRYDWLRQVEHFDPHDODWHUJHQHUDWLRQ¶VHQWUHQFKPHQWV common theme that runs through our common The infrastructure created by these successes eventually struggles. became economic obstacles to progress.2 The American narrative has never been a biography, Does this have to be the American destiny? Maybe. told in the past tense, laying claim to deeds done by our Today in America: ancestors. The American narrative has always been a x High gas and utility prices strain family hypothesis²a wonder filled expression of possibility, to budgets²preventing more family fun and be proved daily by the combined expression of our investing for the future. pursuit of the American Dream. The American narrative x Communities reflect the ´DELOLW\´ WR FRPPXWH is always the story of tomorrow. not the desire to commune. 7RP %URNDZ¶V ERRN The Greatest Generation is not x The U.S. has lost numerous manufacturing an eternal declarative. It is a gauntlet waiting for the sectors, leaving many to work at jobs until a confluence of events and an awakened generation of better one comes along instead of having Americans, once again united by a common cause, in careers and professional stability. Furthermore, this case managing the next energy opportunity, to rising middle-class unemployment may be HQVXUH$PHULFD¶VSUHHPLQHQWJOREDOSRVLWLRQ having a deleterious effect on the institution of $PHULFD¶V ZDVWHIXO XVH RI HQHUJ\ FDQ QR ORQJHU EH marriage as economic struggles pull marriages viewed as just a political or scientific debate that apart and unemployed men are increasingly requires resolution through study or legislation. The unattractive potential marriage partners for American energy orgy, as it is today, is a common women. enemy to our country, to our families, and to our x Small businesses and global conglomerates dreams. struggle to turn profits under the weight of Ending our thoughtless production of energy is now mounting infrastructure costs. the most pro-American, patriotic issue of our time.

Energy and the Republican Party 6

Americans must sever their ties to AmerLFD¶V energy paradigm because, though it will be painful, doing so is ho is the republican party? LQNHHSLQJZLWK$PHULFD¶VPRVWFKHULVKHGYDOXHV w Like any organization, the Republican Party is a To where, then, shall Americans look for answers? group of unique and complicated individuals who have, For years, Democrats have been advancing the issue of for a variety of reasons, chosen to identify themselves global climate change and have been leaders in with a political party that supports American proposing energy legislation to mitigate emissions. conservatism. Two problems emerge from that broad However, this singular focus, particularly when definition. First, because individuals are unique and combined with the fact that a significant number of complicated, there are a multitude of competing Americans are skeptical about the veracity of climate interests, as varied and numerous as the membership science and/or the impact of humans on it, has limited itself. Speaking to a Republican farmer from Iowa the potential of proposals from Democrats. would be a very different experience than speaking to a The Republican Party has eschewed engagement on Republican Wall Street banker. Addressing diverse and effective energy legislation for two reasons. First, the sometimes opposing viewpoints in the same audience party is the home for many climate change skeptics who presents significant challenges. Doing so requires use of GRXEW WKH VFLHQFH GRQ¶W conclude there is a sense of common language and shared values that transcend urgency, and/or object to government being the driving individual interests. force behind change. Secondly, the proposals from the This illuminates the second problem. There is no Democrats are inconsistent with Republican ideas of agreed upon body of dogma that defines American governance. conservatism, at least not as a part of a commonly used It is the Republicans, then, with the greatest lexicon or expression of values. In $LQ¶W 0\ $PHULFD, potenWLDO WR FDWDO\]H FRQVWUXFWLYH FKDQJHV LQ $PHULFD¶V author Bill Kauffman describHV WKH ³YDOXHV RQFH use and production of energy. If the energy discussion associated with Conservatism²decentralism, liberty, LV GHFRXSOHG IURP ³FOLPDWH-change,´ DQG WKH OLQNV economy in government, religious faith, family- between energy and traditional conservative values can centerHGQHVVSDURFKLDOLVPVPDOOQHVV´3 be made, then perhaps an inspiring vision for a New Defining the GOP, though, can be simplified by American Energy Paradigm can be put forth that thinking in the aggregate. If addressing a gathering of promotes American exceptionalism for the next century, Republicans in a single group PDQ\ RI WKH DXGLHQFH¶V while the Republican Party spearheads these changes self-interests are likely to be checked at the door as the with policies that are rooted in addressing the personal group assumes the larger task of developing and and immediately relevant needs of American families manifesting consensus on objectives and means. This and businesses. Additionally, by pursuing energy simpler definition²thinking of the Republican Party as a policies that are consistent with traditional Republican single group rather than a collection of individuals² core values, the GOP can reiterate and emphasize those provides the best hope for defining a group need, values through their actions to a skeptical and cynical though care must be given to avoid generalizations that electorate. reflect personal biases. Consequently, it is best to speak

Energy and the Republican Party 7 about core values, rather than specific means of stop. If one man says it does not mean a negro, why reflecting those values, since those means are more QRWVD\LWGRHVQRWPHDQVRPHRWKHUPDQ"´5 likely to illuminate differences rather than promote Party Half a century later, Theodore Roosevelt brought cohesion. something new to Republican politics: an emphasis on environmental stewardship. He wrote, in 1915, "Fertile istory of conservative thought plains, every foot of them tilled, are of the first H 7R WDNH VXFK D VHFWLRQ WLWOHG WKH ³+LVWRU\ RI necessity; but great natural playgrounds of mountain, ConservatiYH 7KRXJKW´DQGUHGXFHLWVFRQWHQWWRD few forest, cliff-walled lake, and brawling brook are also pages is foolhardy in the extreme. However, a brief necessary to the full and many-sided development of a timeline helps to illuminate potential areas of fine race´6 Roosevelt was a firm believer in the commonality. importance of conserving our national resources²our The Republican Party was born in the anti-slavery land²for future generations. These were sentiments movement in the 1860s, seeing slavery as a great evil, established by Edmund Burke, the English statesmen and with the Democratic Party primarily seeking to often referred to as the founder of modern

Lincoln gave voice to the idea that there are higher moral truths that need attending. perpetuate the practice. Former George W. Bush conservatism, and one day to be echoed in the words of speechwriter Michael Gerson writes, in Heroic Barry Goldwater, often regarded as the father of the Conservatism, ³$QRWKHU VLGH LQ WKH DUJXPHQW >RQ conservative movement in whose shadow the GOP slavery] was taken by Senator Stephen Douglas, moves today. Goldwater wrote in The Conscience of a /LQFROQ¶V SROLWLFDO ULYDO +H XVHG KLV VNLOOs to defend Majority, "While I am a great believer in the free µSRSXODU VRYHUHLJQW\,¶ ZKLFK KH GHILQHG EOXQWO\ µ:H enterprise system and all that it entails, I am an even must allow the people to decide for themselves what is stronger believer in the right our people to live in a clean JRRG RU HYLO¶ 'RXJODV EHOLHYHG WKDW HDFK VWDWH DQG and pollution-IUHHHQYLURQPHQW´7 territory should determine the status of slavery within its The ideas of environmental stewardship were deeply borders. µI care more for the great principle of self- connected to the conservative principles of prudence government, the right of the people to rule, than I do and being faithful to enduring moral truths, namely that for all the Negroes in Christendom.¶ The majority would FLWL]HQV PXVW EH IDLWKIXO VWHZDUGV RI WKH JLIWV WKH\¶YH GHWHUPLQHPRUDOLW\´4 been given, and they must protect those gifts so they /LQFROQ RSSRVHG 'RXJODV¶V SDQGHULQJ VD\LQJ, ³, may be bequeathed to future generations. should like to know if taking this old Declaration of 5XVVHOO .LUN¶V  ERRN, The Conservative Mind, Independence, which declares all men are created equal JDYH QHZ YRLFH WR %XUNH¶V LGHDV, and expounded on upon principle, and making exceptions to it, where it will them, developing six canons of conservatism:

Energy and the Republican Party 8

1. A belief in a transcendent order, which Kirk not his conclusions. But the fact remains that Goldwater described variously as based in tradition, divine promoted conservative environmental stewardship revelation, or natural law; principles, and advocated for an unobtrusive federal 2. An affection for the "variety and mystery" of government. This latter battle cry still echoes clearly in human existence; WRGD\¶V7HD3DUW\0RYHPHQW 3. A conviction that society requires orders and 5RQDOG 5HDJDQ¶V SUHVLGHQF\ LQ WKH PLQGV RI PDQ\ classes that emphasize "natural" distinctions; Republicans, remains the high-water mark for modern 4. A belief that property and freedom are closely conservatism, with its rhetoric directed at a strong linked; national defense, decreased taxes, and opposing 5. A faith in custom, convention, and prescription; communism by advancing the moral superiority of and, democratic capitalism. ,Q PDQ\ ZD\V 5HDJDQ¶V SUHVLGHQF\ VHSDUDWHV WKH 6. A recognition that innovation must be tied to traditional conservatism, extending from Burke to existing traditions and customs, which entails a Goldwater, from the conservatism we see on TV today. respect for the political value of prudence.8 Rod Dreher, the author of Crunchy Cons, says of the

ODWWHU³Conservatism has become associated chiefly with ,W¶VKDUGWRVHHLQPRGHUQSROLWLFVKRZWKHVHFDQRQV free-market triumphalism, tax-cutting, nationalism, and have been applied, and they are seldom given voice. a moralism that is rarely connected to a more holistic KLUN¶V ODQJXDJH LV WUDQVFHQGHQW²his ideas the result of understanding of what life in families and communities years of reflection and study. Only a minority of should be about´10 For all practical considerations, this Republicans today, on K Street or Main Street, could be is the conservatism that informs Republican thought ample apologists for them. But they keep resurfacing, today. Little time is given to addressing the moral at least by implication, in conservative thinking. Recent authority and compassion of traditional conservatism. apologists include S.E. Cupp and Brett Joshpe, who Some of the policies that emerged from conservatism defend and promote them as conservative cornerstones have now become values in and of themselves, rather in their 2008 book, :K\

Energy and the Republican Party 9 acceptance of these values, I will present them in the neighbors, not in the pursuit of selfish interests but in first person to reflect that these are my own conclusions, the service of others. These traditional relationships are though such a disclaimer cannot absolve me from the foundation of the American social structure. These accusations of presumption. DUH WKH ³JUHDWHU JRRGV´ to which we make personal First, and foremost, is the belief in the dignity of sacrifices every day. human life. Thomas Jefferson made this the absolute My third canon of conservative thinking is cornerstone of America and her political system by prudence. This is a word infrequently used today, but it GHFODULQJ ³$OO PHQ DUH FUHDWHG HTXDO WKDW WKH\ DUH encompasses much: self-discipline, shrewd personal endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, conduct, good judgment in the use of resources, and that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of caution. +DSSLQHVV´  $OO KXPDQ OLIH KDV HTXDO ZRUWK 1R OLIe is The concept of investment applies here as well. To worth more than another. Some individuals may achieve invest, you must have acquired something tangible, you more, or acquire more, throughout their lives, but each must have protected that asset, and you must be willing human life is possessed of dignity that should be to put it at risk in order to grow it into something more. cherished and valued. The dignity of human life But such risks are taken wisely, not carelessly. To not requires that it should never be in involuntary servitude invest at all is to stagnate and whither. To invest to any other person or power. This we call liberty, recklessly is to eschew our responsibilities in the future. which is the means by which human dignity is respected Neither is prudent. and maintained. Prudence reminds us that there is a debt owed to With that in mind, my second canon of conservatism those who have come before us, and there is a is sacrifice. Given the importance on human life, when responsibility to our descendants. Nothing can be one individual selflessly gives up his life²either literally consumed today without acknowledging that its present through death for another, or through a life of service to existence is the result of a previous investment, either others²that sacrifice should be honored. Conservatives by others, or by our own labors. And our present HVWHHPWKHVHUYLFHRI$PHULFD¶VPHQDQGZRPHQLQWKH consumption prevents future use of the same. These military because they have voluntarily given their lives in attitudes can be referred to as thanksgiving and service to the nation, and knowingly put themselves in stewardship. a position where that sacrifice may cost them their life. As a corollary, conservatives value customs, And I hold in the highest regard Medal of Honor FRQYHQWLRQVDQGFRQWLQXLW\1RWDVDZD\WR³SUHVHUYH´ recipients who took their sacrifice to the realm of the the past but rather as an acknowledgment that there is divine. Likewise, there is a common respect for the life no need to reinvent the wheel. What worked yesterday of Jesus, who lived a life of service, and made the is a good starting point for today. It is not the means, ultimate sacrifice in its pursuit. per se, that conservatives seek to perpetuate, but rather The means by which conservatives live this canon is the values that have endured the test of time. by committing to participating in voluntary social Related to both human dignity and prudence, and so structures and communities such as family, friends and not its own canon, is peace. Never should a human life

Energy and the Republican Party 10

EHWKURZQKDSKD]DUGO\LQWRKDUP¶VZD\7KHGHIHQVHRI themselves from society. Behaviors have consequences: our values requires the voluntary sacrifice of some lives, both positive and negative. but never should government or citizens be cavalier Consequently, people receive justice when they are about such actions. In fact, with so much at stake, the held accountable for their decisions and behavior. If extreme exercise of prudence ought to be the people misbehave and are not punished, there is no expectation. justice. If people work diligently and are denied the America has a history of finding peace through fruits of their labor, they too are denied justice. strength. Prudence dictates that we are cautious, and As a result, conservatives believe in capitalism. caution impels us to preparation. In this case we Russell Kirk, the author of The Conservative Mind, said shrewdly deploy the resource of those service-minded ³*HWWLQJDQGVSHQGLQJDUHQRWWKHFKLHIDLPVRI human members of our military. But we avoid foreign existence; but a sound economic basis for the person, entanglements that unnecessarily risk American lives, the family, and the commonwealth is much to be not disrespecting the dignity of their life, but prudently GHVLUHG7REHDEOHWRUHWDLQWKHIUXLWVRIRQH¶VODERUWR caring for those soldiers who have offered so much to EHDEOHWRVHHRQH¶VZRUNPDGHSHUPDQHQWWREHDEOH their country. We must be faithful stewards of their WREHTXHDWKRQH¶VSURSHUW\WRRQH¶V posterity; to be able willingness to sacrifice. Honoring the troops means to rise from the natural condition of grinding poverty to safeguarding their spirit of sacrifice. the security of enduring accomplishment; to have A fourth canon of conservatism is justice, which somHWKLQJWKDWLVUHDOO\RQH¶VRZQ´11 might also be referred to as accountability. People are The fifth and final canon is restraints on power. responsible for their choices, and there are natural Wherever and whenever possible, power should be kept consequences for all things. Hard work is rewarded. in the hands of private persons and local institutions. Sloth is impugned. It dignifies human life when people The concept of subsidiarity (never should a higher are able to keep what they have earned. As such, agency do what a smaller or private agency can do as property and liberty are closely related. well or better) should be a fundamental principle. The Conservatives tend to believe there is an enduring government should avoid interference in economic moral order passed through families, traditions and markets in a way that distorts those markets. conventions that establishes the basic premise of right Our founding fathers established two governments. and wrong. We trust these enduring moral orders to The first, under the Articles of Confederation in 1776, illuminate their path. was designed to minimize the power of the federal The rule of law is an important aspect of justice. government. The fact that such a government was Society and tradition decide on certain social norms, and established first reflects the initial inclinations of the living within those norms demonstrates respect for Founders to keep power away from the federal others. To violate those laws is to minimize the government. importance of others and to disrespect humanity. Those Too weak to effectively lead the united colonies, the who choose to violate the law are choosing to remove Founders hit delete on Government v 1.0 and gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to write the code for v 2.0. We

Energy and the Republican Party 11 must conclude, as they did, that there is a greater role perpetuate the American dream for generations to required for the federal government than our libertarian come. prejudices suggest, but its powers should be restrained 7KLQNLQJ WRZDUGV QHZ LGHDV .LUN ZURWH ³5HMHFWLQJ whenever possible. The Founders gave the Congress things out of hand makes for a rejection of truths that the power of the purse to constrain the authority of the are otherwise hidden. Digging deep enough, we find executive branch. Likewise, in the American ideas that ultimately converge, even when, on the Constitutional Democracy, one means available to surface, they contradict each other´12 Americans to constrain the reach of the federal government and limit the global reach of our military is energy in america: trend analysis to limit the federal purse by keeping taxes low. Lastly, stemming from several canons, is charity. When moments of change present themselves, Charity entails a voluntary sacrifice and an SHRSOH¶VPLQGVEHJLQWRRSHQWRQHZSRVVLELOLWLHV7KH acknowledgement that some are less fortunate than current American malaise has been a drain on the others. The conservative belief in natural consequences American spirit since 9/11. The Greek mathematician is not a heartless justification for economic and social Archimedes once said, ³Give me a lever long enough, America is best served when the legacy of conservatism is doing what is right, not merely what is prescribed.

Darwinism. Justice, though canonical, is yet subservient and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the to respecting the dignity of human lives through ZRUOG´7KHFRQIOXHQFHRIHFRQRPLFVRFLDODQGSROLWLFDO sacrificial giving and thanksgiving. woes surrounding the American Energy Paradigm has Despite a prejudice to see these values endure, it is produced such a mechanism. It will take political and critical to note the importance of the need for change commercial leadership, and innovation, to act as a lever over time. Change is consistent with the five canons to shift the American Energy Paradigm into an enduring described above. Actions create reactions and those system for the centuries to come. The fulcrum on which UHDFWLRQV FUHDWH FKDQJH ³,QYHVWPHQW´ KRSHV WKDW WKH such a lever is placed is the ³impetus for change,´ either nature of change will be growth, but understands it may as a result of citizen insistence, or as a result of a great be depreciation. Our ancestors bequeathed their legacies crisis. Yet the lever and fulcrum do not operate in a to us and we conserved the best parts, applying them to vacuum. ³Work´ must be done to use the lever as an a new world, and transmitting those to our children who LUUHVLVWLEOH IRUFH UHGXFLQJ WKH SURYHUELDO ³LPPRYDEOH ZLOO GR WKH VDPH 2XU REMHFWLYH LV ³FRQVHUYDWLRQ,´ QRW REMHFW´WRDQHDVLO\PXWHGFRQFHSW7KHVRXUFHRIWKDW ³SUHVHUYDWLRQ´  7KH JRDO RI FRQVHUYDWLYHV LV QRW WR work is the focus of this report. remake America in the image of Colonial Williamsburg, The importance of energy in the lives of Americans but to take all that is exceptional about America today² cannot be overstated. In fact, the ubiquity of energy founded in the wisdom of our national journey²and consumption in America means that in virtually every important issue facing Americans, there is an energy

Energy and the Republican Party 12 component. Families need financial relief. The Relations report of an Independent Task Force on unemployed need jobs. Businesses need to turn profits. Terrorist Financing, Osama bin Laden and his men have The economy is vulnerable to oil price spikes. American been able to accumulate millions of dollars using leadership needs leverage in foreign policy. Our national legitimate businesses such as charities, security needs to be strengthened both militarily and nongovernmental organizations, mosques, banks and economically. Our troops need to have their sacrifices other financial institutions to help raise and move their UHVSHFWHG  $PHULFD¶V QDWXUDO UHVRXUFHV DUH EHLQJ funds´13 consumed with little regard for future generations. According to Terrence Jeffrey, ³John McCain made American land needs to be protected for recreational virtually the same argument in December [of 2007] in activities and future agricultural uses. Taken together, KLVRZQHQHUJ\VSHHFKµ$O-Qaida must revel in the irony these issues ought to foster an atmosphere of receptivity that America is effectively helping to fund both sides of for the challenge of creating a New American Energy WKHZDUWKH\FDXVHG¶KHVDLGµ$VZHVDFULILFHEORRGDQG Paradigm. treasure, some of our gas dollars flow to the fanatics who build the bombs, hatch the plots, and carry out ational Security attacks on our soldiers and citizens. Iran made over $45 N In the global war on terror, we are funding both billion from oil sales in 2005, and it is the No. 1 state sides of the conflict. U.S. dependence on Persian Gulf oil sponsor of terrorism.¶´14 is only 18 percent of our 11.8 million barrels of imported Not only does the U.S. purchase of oil fund terrorism, oil, or about 2.1 million barrels of oil per day. At $95 per oil infrastructure is a high-priority, high-reward target for barrel, about $73 billion per year flows into the coffers terrorists. General James Conway, the Commandant of of Middle Eastern governments, most of which are WKH 86 0DULQH &RUSV FRQILUPV ³:KHQ ZH NLOOHG ELQ strategically unstable at best. Several of these Laden, we saw oil taQNHUGHVLJQVRQKLVZRUNGHVN´15 General James Conway, the Commandant of the U.S. 0DULQH&RUSVFRQILUPV´:KHQZHNLOOHGELQ/DGHQZH VDZRLOWDQNHUGHVLJQVRQKLVZRUNGHVNµ countries, chief among them Saudi Arabia (accounting Even if the U.S. bought no oil from the Middle East, for two-thirds of our Middle East imports), directly the money would still flow in that direction. The global support terrorism. In fact, the classified portion of the oil market is a crude game of whack-a-mole. If the 9/11 Report makes direct connections between Saudi United States replaced its Persian Gulf purchases with Arabia and the terrorist hijackers. Additionally, the more oil from Canada and Mexico, for example, whoever Institute for the Analysis of Global Security notes, was previously buying those barrels of oil from Canada ³Individuals and charities from the Persian Gulf²mainly and Mexico would have to purchase elsewhere. Because from Saudi Arabia²appear to be the most important the global oil supply is constrained by capacity and OPEC source of funding for terrorist organizations like Al- policies, those buyers would have little choice but to Qaeda. According to an October 2002 Council on Foreign

Energy and the Republican Party 13 turn to where the U.S. used to get is oil; namely the Board Task Force reports that the commercial electrical Middle East. JULG LV ³EULWWOH LQFUHDVLQJO\ FHQWUDOL]HG FDSDFLW\- For now, the global oil supply is secure, but only strained, and largely unprotected from physical attack, because producers have self-interest in making it so. In with little stRFNSLOLQJRIFULWLFDOKDUGZDUH´.19 1776, Adam Smith wrote in The Wealth of Nations³,WLV Additionally, the commercial electrical grid is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or vulnerable to cyber-attack, solar flares, and the baker that we expect our dinner but from their electromagnetic pulse. With the United States pursuing regard for their own self-LQWHUHVW´16 Similarly, it is not ³VPDUW JULG´ WHFKQRORJ\ LQ ZKLFK FRPSXWHUV DQG WKH GXHWRWKHEHQHYROHQFHRIWKHZRUOG¶VRLOVXSSOLHUVWKDW internet are increasingly involved in the delivery of we get our oil, but from their regard for their own electrical power in order to improve efficiency and make interests. Our oil supply is secure not because our cheaper, nighttime, power available to customers, this government threatens to use force against those who creates an ever growing number of points of attack for would make it insecure, EXW EHFDXVH WKH ZRUOG¶V RLO cyber terrorists. suppliers want to make money. Space weather, or solar flares, is also a growing U.S. oil consumption is not the only energy threat to threat. For example, according to the National Earth our national security. The U.S. electrical transmission ScLHQFH 7HDFKHUV $VVRFLDWLRQ ³On March 13, 1989, at grid is a significant point of vulnerability as well. Because 2:44 am, a transformer failure on one of the main power the electrical grid is so massive and connected across transmission lines in the Hydro Quebec system the nation, we have seen how even minor glitches can precipitated a catastrophic collapse of the entire power have devastating impacts. In 2003, an ice-covered tree grid. The string of events that produced the collapse fell on power lines in Ohio, and shut off power to the took only 90 seconds from start to finish. There was no Northeast affecting 45 million people. In the summer of time for any meaningful intervention. The transformer 2011, an electrical worker in Arizona switching out a failure was a direct consequence of ground-induced capacitor accidentally caused a power outage for six currents from a space weather disturbance high in the million people in southern California. atmosphere. Six million people lost electrical power for The Government Accounting Office reported in 2009 QLQHRUPRUHKRXUV´.20 WKDWRIWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVH¶s 34 most critical Solar storms tend to run on an eleven-year cycle, bases around the world rely on commercial electrical with the last period of maximum solar activity being in power grids.17 The report goes on to say, that during the 2001. A calculator is not needed to figure out that the *$2¶VVXUYH\RIWKHVHLQVWDOODWLRQV, ³at least 24 of the 34 next expected period of maximum solar activity is just most critical assets experienced some electrical power around the corner. With new technology, the intensity disruptions²lasting up to seven days²during the three- of space weather can be more accurately forecast. year period from January 2006 through December 2008, These technologies have lead Mausumi Dikpati, a solar and the missions supported by three of those critical scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric assets were adversely impacted by electrical power Research, to predict that the 2012 solar cycle is likely to GLVUXSWLRQV´18 A 2008 report by the Defense Science be 30-50% more intense than the one in 2001.21

Energy and the Republican Party 14

Whether that dire prediction proves true or not, the from The Wealth of Nations might deserve careful National Academy of Sciences reported in 2009 that any reflection: ³'HIHQVHLVVXSerior to opulence.´23 future solar storm, similar to one documented from 1859, could take years to recover from, since oreign Policy commercial grade transformers are manufactured F George Washington is often credited with overseas, have long lead times (up to a year), and there encouraging the United States to avoid foreign DUHYLUWXDOO\QRQH³LQVWRFN´LIIDLOXUHVRFFXU7KHUHSRUW entanglements in his farewell address. These describes such an event this way: "Impacts would be specific words he did not pen. Though the felt on interdependent infrastructures with, for example, misattributed quote may be a fair synopsis of thoughts potable water distribution affected within several hours; he did record: ³The duty of holding a neutral conduct perishable foods and medications lost in 12-24 hours; may be inferred, without anything more, from the immediate or eventual loss of heating/air conditioning, obligation which justice and humanity impose on every sewage disposal, phone service, transportation, fuel nation, in cases in which it is free to act, to maintain resupply and so on. Banks might close, and trade with inviolate the relations of peace and amity toward other other countries might halt. Emergency services would be QDWLRQV´24 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ WRGD\¶V 86 IRUHLJQ SROLF\ LV strained, and commDQGDQGFRQWUROPLJKWEHORVW´22 unquestionably more influenced by the Carter Doctrine The net effect is that the massive, global, than the ancient dictation of our first Commander in interconnected systems of oil production and delivery, Chief. and electrical power generation and delivery, have made In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the United individual Americans more vulnerable than ever to States would use whatever means necessary, including catastrophic effects outside of our control. military force, to defend its interests in the Middle East, Where conservatives wish to limit the reach of power and our interests in the Middle East (with apologies to and government, we have become intrinsically enslaved Israel) are singular: oil. This has not only affected U.S. to a transportation system and electrical system that foreign policy, it has affected the perception of (quite literally) puts power in the hands of the federal conservatism. government and global business conglomerates whose Throughout the pages of history, chronicling the objectives of profit and perpetuating the paradigm conservative narrative, is a consistent anti-war theme supersede citizen concerns. This is a situation that reflecting the values mentioned above (and to be conservatives ought to find untenable. Prudence is discussed in greater detail below), and President seldom a factor in our thinking about the situation as it :DVKLQJWRQ¶VVXJJHVWLRQWKDWZHNHHSRur hands out of stands today. While the current paradigm has some RWKHU FRXQWULHV¶ FRRNLH MDUV Five of the last eight obvious advantages, perpetuating it into the next presidential terms, sLQFH &DUWHU¶V SURFODPDWLRQ, have century must be done freely acknowledging the been served by Republicans, leaving them mostly vulnerabilities we are creating while we avoid the costs responsible for applying the Carter Doctrine. While the and hardships of change. The thoughts of Adam Smith history of the GOP may be decidedly anti-ZDU$PHULFD¶V insatiable need for oil, and our national belief that

Energy and the Republican Party 15 gaining access to it, wherever it may be found, is our life, our own freedom and the freedom of friendly ³ULJKW´ KDV IRUFHG WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV LQWR VHYHUDO ZDUV countries around the world would all suffer if control of This has altered (hopefully temporarily) the perception WKH ZRUOG¶V JUHDW RLO UHVHUYHV IHOO LQto the hands of of Republicans²now seen as warmongers and Saddam Hussein.¶27 Moreover, Secretary of Defense Dick imperialists. Cheney argued that if Hussein got control of Kuwait, he Authenticity and transparency would be the best ZRXOGEHµLQDSRVLWLRQWREHDEOHWRGLFWDWHWKHIXWXUHRI defense against those perceptions. Employing those worldwide energy policy, and that gave him a tools would require only that our national government stranglehold on our economy.¶´28 H[SOLFLWO\ VWDWH ³

Energy and the Republican Party 16

East, and there are certain benefits to maintaining that Chicago professor and noted author and political relationship. Yet those reasons stem from the critical scientist, John Mearsheimer, in the February 2012 issue role of oil in the U.S. and global economy. Absent those RI  7KH $WODQWLF QRWHV WKDW 0HDUVKHLPHU ³WKLQNV WKDW justifications, the F-15 deal is nothing more than while states rightly yearn for values-based foreign policy, UHZDUGLQJ$PHULFD¶V enemies, and is hardly indicative of the reality of the anarchic international system forces conducting foreign policy from a position of strength. them to behave according to theiU RZQ LQWHUHVWV´33 American strategic oil interests in the Persian Gulf And nowhere are the political realities of 21st Century have pushed an emerging power like China to look geo-politics more apparent than in the global petroleum elsewhere for oil to avoid coming in conflict with the trade. United States. China has been increasing its investments For decades the U.S. has been called upon to use its in Africa (China gets more oil from Angola than from military and economic might to defend and promote Saudi Arabia30.), and has for years been trading with liberty around the world. Conservatives, respecting Sudan, unfazed by the civil war taking place within. The human dignity and valuing personal liberty, ought to be U.S., on the other hand, has been pressured to be more champions of these international struggles for human responsive to Sudanese genocide, but has been limited rights. The extent to which the U.S. should be involved in its ability to act because doing so would infringe on may be debatable, but there is no doubt that currently Chinese oil LQWHUHVWV LQ WKH UHJLRQ 6HFXULQJ $PHULFD¶V U.S. foreign policy is more often guided by self-interest Future Energy (SAFE), a Washington-based think tank than motivated by promoting the ³KLJKHU YDOXHV´ RI on energy, published a report in September of 2008 conservatism that prioritize the advancement of liberty concluding, ³2il dependence undermines national and the promotion of political self-determination for security and the conduct of foreign policy by limiting citizens of emerging nations. The U.S. should always U.S. strategic flexibility, strengthening foreign pursue those policies that are in our best interests (what adversaries, and exacerbating geopolitical competition QDWLRQ GRHVQ¶W"  EXW LW ZRXOG EH EHVW LI 86 IRUHLJQ for resources´31 policy makers were not handcuffed in developing None of this is terribly surprising, though cynics, effective policy by having access to global oil as serious optimists, pessimists and realists could tarry for hours strategic limitation. over the causes and effects. The British scholar E.H. Carr wrote in 7KH 7ZHQW\

Energy and the Republican Party 17 and gas and oil heating²as well as the comfort, mobility Africa is expected to be one of the fastest-growing and personal independence that hydrocarbons VRXUFHVRIRLODQGQDWXUDOJDVIRUWKH$PHULFDQPDUNHW¶ facilitate.´34 WKH UHSRUW VWDWHV 0RUHRYHU µ$IULFDQ RLO WHQGV WR EH RI The use of our military troops has clearly been high quality and low in sulfur, making it suitable for required to keep the machine in motion. However, doing stringent refined product requirements.¶´36 so reflects the attitude that keeping oil prices low is In his 2006 State of the Union address, President more important than the lives of our servicemen. We %XVKDQQRXQFHGWKDWWKH86ZRXOG³UHSODFHPRUHWKDQ are willing to risk our blood and treasure in a reckless 75% of our oil importVIURPWKH0LGGOH(DVWE\´37 manner to maintain the status quo, and this has With the Cheney Report in mind and newly certainly been born out in U.S. military actions in the established geo-strategic objectives announced, Middle East over the last two decades. President Bush established AFRICOM. While public Another telling development in the willingness of the statements surrounding its establishment focus on 86JRYHUQPHQWWRSXWRXUWURRSVLQKDUP¶VZD\IRURLO terrorism²the politically palatable UDLVRQ G¶rWUH² interests was the creation of the United States Africa securing African oil seems to be the more important Command (AFRICOM). Until its establishment in motivation. In an interview with Wall Street Journal February, 2007, military operations in the region fell writer Greg Jaffe, General Charles Wald, the Deputy under U.S. Central Command. However, with the CRPPDQGHU RI 86 IRUFHV LQ (XURSH VDLG ³$ NH\ growing awareness that the U.S. would benefit from mission for U.S. forces [in Africa] would be to insure that decreasing reliance on oil from the Persian Gulf, and the 1LJHULD¶VRLOILHOGVZKLFKLQWKHIXWXUHFRXOGDFFRXQWIRU reality that U.S. demand for oil would continue to as much as 25 percent of all U.S. oil imports, are increase, new oil markets became increasingly VHFXUH´38 important. Lest we be inclined to point fingers solely at In 1999, Exxon Vice-President Harry Longwell President George W. Bush, President Obama is also SRLQWHG WKH ZD\ ³&RQVLGHULQJ WKH GLVFRYHULHV ZH¶YH strengthening strategic ties to African oil. The Obama already made [in West Africa] and the potential for $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ¶V ILUVW 1DWLRQDO 6HFXULW\ 6WUDtegy, issued more, we expect that future operations in Africa will LQ  VWUHVVHV WKH QHHG WR ³HPEUDFH HIIHFWLYH account for a significant portion of ([[RQ¶V ZRUOGZLGH SDUWQHUVKLSV´ RQ WKH >$IULFDQ@ FRQWLQHQW KLJKOLJKWLQJ D SURGXFWLRQ´35 QXPEHURISULRULWLHVLQFOXGLQJ³DFFHVVWRRSHQPDUNHWV Michael Klare and Daniel Volman provide additional conflict prevention, global peacekeeping, EDFNJURXQG³A high-level body appointed by President counterterrorism, and the protection of vital carbon Bush in February 2001, the National Energy Policy sinks´39 Development Group (NEPDG) was chaired by Vice 5DWKHU WKDQ XVLQJ WKH DZDUHQHVV RI ³D QHHG WR President Dick Cheney, and its final document is often GHFUHDVH UHOLDQFH RQ 0LGGOH (DVWHUQ RLO´ DV DQ LPSHWXV UHIHUUHG WR DV WKHµ&KHQH\ 5HSRUW¶ 7KH &KHQH\ 5HSRUW for innovative systemic change at home, the federal KLJKOLJKWHG $IULFD¶V SRWHQWLDO WR VXSSO\ DQ HYHU- government seems determined to eschew the LQFUHDVLQJ VKDUH RI WKH $PHULFD¶V HQHUJ\ QHHGV µ:HVW conservative values of prudence and a respect for

Energy and the Republican Party 18 human life by being poor stewards of the voluntary increasingly become a service-economy as opposed to a service of military members. manufacturing economy. Manufacturing output now accounts for only 13 percent of GDP.43 he Economy The U.S. still ranks as the first or second largest T The 2008 Republican Party Platform has this to producer of manufactured goods in the world,44 VD\ DERXW HQHUJ\ ³All sources of domestic energy depending on what statistics you read. However, most should be made available and artificial constraints on of the gains in productivity over the last 50 years have infrastructure, including costly environmental come as a result of mechanization²replacing low-wage, UHJXODWLRQVUHPRYHG´ unskilled workers with automation. At the end of the Yet, the use of the Department of Defense to first decade of the 21st Century, the United States had protect and defend the free flow of oil amounts to a lost over six million manufacturing jobs²about one out direct financial subsidy to the oil industry. (This is in of every three. Though the American population has addition to the more than $2.82 billion in direct subsidies doubled since the end of the Great Depression, today U.S. oil companies added to their balance sheets in there are about as many workers employed in 2010.)40 Oil companies reap the direct benefits from manufacturing as there were some 70 years ago.45 militarily-secured lines of distribution while the American Since the end of the Cold War in 1989, and the taxpayer foots the bill through taxation to support DGYHQWRIJOREDOL]DWLRQDQDWLRQ¶VVWUHQJWKLVGHWHUPLQHG rapidly growing defense budgets. According to the less by its military might and more by its economic Center for Naval Analysis, in 2010 the U.S. spent $74 power. Now, more than ever before, economic security billion protecting oil in the Middle East alone.41 At a time is national security. As the U.S. looks to retain its place when trillion dollar annual budget deficits are as a global superpower, ensuring the strength of our increasingly difficult to justify, extraordinary expenses to economy is critical. Doing so also provides opportunities perpetuate a problematic paradigm seem particularly for Americans to work, a fundamental component of profligate. respecting human dignity, as well as providing Clearly, any lengthy discussion on the economic opportunity for just rewards for just labors. ramifications of U.S. energy policy could be a book unto The loss of manufacturing jobs may be having a itself. With that in mind, a brief discussion of areas of fascinating, though harmful, effect on the institution of economic importance will have to suffice. PDUULDJH.DWH%ROLFNZULWHVLQ7KH$WODQWLF³The erosion The U.S. is in critical need of new, vibrant of the traditional marriage and family structure has manufacturing sectors, and pursuit of a New Energy played out most dramatically among low income groups, Paradigm has the potential to do just that. ³The Green both black and white. According to the sociologist Energy Economy,´ says Hal Harvey, a Stanford engineer William Julius Wilson, inner city black men struggled DQGDPHPEHUIRUWKHILUVW%XVKDGPLQLVWUDWLRQ³LVD badly in the 1970s, as manufacturing plants shut down trillion business and if we fail to be serious players in the or moved to distant suburbs. These men naturally new energy economy, the costs will be staggering to this resented their downward mobility, and had trouble FRXQWU\´42 Over the last fifty years, the U.S. has making the switch to service jobs requiring a different

Energy and the Republican Party 19 style of self-presentation. The joblessness and economic downturns in global economic activity has been insecurity that resulted created a host of problems and immediately preceded by a major spike in oil prices´49 made many men altogether unmarriable. Today, as manufacturing jobs disappear nationwide (American manufacturing shed about a third of its jobs during the first decade of this century), the same phenomenon may be under wa\EXWRQDPXFKODUJHUVFDOH´46 'HVSLWH$PHULFD¶VVWURQJPDQXIDFWXULQJRXWSXWWKH U.S. trade deficit continues to grow, DQG ³SHWUROHXP imports are the largest single contributor to the U.S. trade deficit. In 2010, the U.S. imported more than nine million barrels of petroleum and petroleum products per day, valued in excess of $300 billion.´47 This trade imbalance undermines the value of the U.S. dollar. While 50. the dollar remains the global reserve currency, demand Changes to the American Energy Paradigm should occur UHPDLQV DUWLILFLDOO\ KLJK SURSSLQJ XS WKH GROODU¶V value. with the goal of easing the burden on American family However, the lack of manufactured goods available for budgets. With gas prices hovering between $3.00 and export decreases the real value of the dollar, putting the $4.00 a gallon, fuel costs²which are non-discretionary U.S. in a precarious situation should the global economy in most American families²soar, and take money away ever decide to replace the dollar as the global reserve from other categories such as retirement savings, FXUUHQF\ ZLWK D ³EDVNHW RI FXUUHQFLHV´ DV KDV EHHQ college savings, and discretionary spending. In fact, bandied about now for several years. rising oil prices and utility rates affect everything that is As corporations, both big and small, look to shed made and transported within the U.S., adding overhead, energy efficiency becomes increasingly inflationary pressures to all goods and services. Thus, important. Conservatives can advocate for energy driving those costs down through changes to our energy efficiency for businesses on the grounds that, by making paradigm increases the robustness of the U.S. economy businesses more profitable, new jobs are created, wages in a myriad of ways. rise, and cRQVXPHUFRQILGHQFHJURZV7RUHLWHUDWH.LUN¶V Overall, the United States is lagging behind in the ZRUGV³Getting and spending are not the chief aims of development of new energy technologies. China leads human existence; but a sound economic basis for the the world in solar panel manufacturing (despite also person, the family, and the commonwealth is much to leading the world in the erection of new coal-fired be desired.´48 plants). Germany, never known for its sunny climate, is Any modern economy (and the U.S. is no exception) a global leader in solar panel deployment. Spain is the is adversely affected by high energy prices. In a link that ZRUOG¶V OHDGHU LQ ZLQG SRZHU  +HUH DW KRPH ZKHUH VKRXOGFRPHDVQRVXUSULVH³Hach of the last five major PXVLFDOVODXG2NODKRPD¶VEOXVWHU\GD\VRQO\RQHRIWKH three largest wind farms in the country is American

Energy and the Republican Party 20 owned.51 Leading up to the 2008 election, the Center for digital controls, chiller plant retrofit, VAV air handling American Progress published a report titled ³Green units, building windows and tenant energy Recovery´ in which they noted that green manufacturing management.56 The final cost of the energy efficiency could create 800,000 manufacturing jobs over two retrofits was $13.2 million, creating an annual savings of years.52 $4.4 million, yielding a three year payback or return on investment.57 usiness Profitability The energy efficiency retrofits have not only reduced B Small businesses, and global conglomerates alike, overhead for ownership, but they have added to the struggle to turn profits under the weight of mounting value of the Empire State Building as a desirable place in infrastructure costs. which to be a tenant. As policy makers look for ways to Aluminum block letters hanging on the wall behind help businesses return to profitability, encouraging the reception desk in the administrative offices of the energy efficiency retrofits creates positive and Empire State Building proclaim it as WKH ³ZRUOG¶V PRVW immediate economic benefits for businesses, decreasing famous office buildinJ´ 7KRXJK WKLV LV DQ RSLQLRQ their overhead, increasing their profitability, improving reflective of American ego-centrism, it is a difficult their ability to forecast energy costs, and creating jobs conclusion to dispute. Built in only 18 months and through construction and business growth. completed in 1931, for over 80 years it has been a Yet it is not just big businesses looking to capture an symbol of American excellence and the rewards of free energy dividend. Small businesses, as well as families, markets. are getting involved of their own accord, with or without In 2008, WKH(PSLUH6WDWH%XLOGLQJ¶VRZQHU$QWKRQ\ government incentives. Malkin, made a decision to invest in energy efficiency. Gary Brown lives in Byron, Georgia, and is a small He had one singular purpose: to cut costs. By making business owner. He and his friends, demonstrating the the building more energy efficient it would become more creativity, innovation and initiative that are at the heart profitable. Mr. Malkin had two secondary considerations. of the American entrepreneurial spirit, came up with an )LUVWZDVWR³SURYHRUGLVSURYHWKHFRVW-effectiveness of interesting solution to rapidly rising fuel costs in 2008. energy efficiency retrofits.´53 As the project went on, Mr. They noted that their farm tractors got many more miles Malkin notes, there became another objective: to create to the gallon than their pickup trucks. Suspecting a replicable model for other commercial office Washington and Detroit collusion, he and his buddies buildings.54 decided to take an old tractor engine, rebuild it, and put According to Paul Rode, the chief engineer with it in a Ford F-250. Brown now gets 40-50 miles per Johnson Controls, who oversaw the work, there were 78 gallon in a pickup truck that used to yield 15 miles to the different energy efficiency ideas considered.55 Through gallon²downhill and with a tailwind. He tells his story rigorous cost analysis, ownership worked with five this way in Shade Tree Conversions: corporate partners to implement eight of them: a I came home from work in radiative barrier, tenant demand control ventilation, August of 2005 and my wife told me that a category 4 or 5 hurricane was tenant day-lighting, lighting and plugs, balance of direct about to strike the Gulf coast in the

Energy and the Republican Party 21

vicinity of New Orleans. I knew the it to other small businesses or oil companies would use this natural individuals. When the fuel prices disaster to skyrocket the price of skyrocketed, the sales slowed down fuel and I was right on target. I and we were left holding the bag. tried to get people to cut back on I contacted five other small business their use of this necessary evil. I people and asked them to meet me knew unless the American people at my business one Tuesday night. reduced the amount of fuel they We all talked about how our small consumed while it was $3.00 a businesses had been hurt by the gallon, the oil companies would high fuel prices. We had finally probably never let it get below that survived the 9/11 tragedy and its record price again. resulting business slow down.

In my lifetime I have become The first night we met we mostly painfully aware of the oil companies talked about how bad our ability to escalate fuel prices for businesses were doing. It was on almost any reason. The American the second night that we started people have been pushed around working on some way to get our time and again by these corporate businesses going again. One person bullies. The oil companies try to tell told us that there were some federal us they are not gouging us, but loans available to help restart our then they make record profits, in businesses, but as usual there were some cases ten times what they had more strings tied to it than a been profiting in recent years, but parachute. WKH\DUHQRW³JRXJLQJ´RIFRXUVH When a small business gets hit After the hurricane did its like we were, for every $1 we go in damage to the Gulf coast, the oil debt during bad times, it takes $4- companies did exactly what I $5 to pay back the debt when predicted. They have taken things pick up. We pondered several advantage of us. I call it financial ways of getting not only our small rape. businesses out of this financial dilemma, but also the American ,¶P VHOI-employed and I can tell people. you firsthand our small business was down about 50%. Our sales ,UHPHPEHUWKH³2LO(PEDUJR´RI were cut so drastic (sic) that our the seventies. Congress voted to overhead (operating expenses) freeze wages and prices, so the oil exceeded our profits 12 straight companies shut off the flow of oil. I months in a row. People were upset remembered the long lines at the DERXW WKH SULFH RI IXHO DQG , GRQ¶W service stations. The oil companies bODPHWKHPVRWKH\ZHUHQ¶WEX\LQJ seem to have a stranglehold on our anything but bare necessities. nation. I believe the only way to UHGXFH WKH RLO FRPSDQ\¶V My business is a small equipment stranglehold is to reduce the reconditioning company. We rebuild amount of fuel we use.58 used late model equipment and sell

Energy and the Republican Party 22

0U %URZQ¶V IHHOLQJV DERXW RLO FRPSDQLHV PD\ EH In mid-September [1995], Hurricane open for debate, but his economic situation is not. The Marilyn swept 115 mile-per-hour winds across the island, tearing recessed American economy has placed enormous roofs off buildings and knocking out burdens on small business owners and families. electricity and phone service. The Gasoline for the majority of Americans is an absolute recycled building materials used to construct the Harmony facility necessity²a locked cell on their budget spreadsheet. survived the winds, as did its PV Rising fuel costs strain those budgets, removing money systems. According to Stanley that might otherwise be available to invest in growing Selengut, president of Maho Bay Camps, Inc., the systems' battery the business and hiring, or from families wishing to banks never faltered and were once increase their savings rates for retirement or college. again replenished by the solar Additionally, those same rising fuel costs make panels when the storm passed and everything else small businesses and families purchase sun reappeared. Campground staff remained at Harmony during the more expensive by driving up the transportation costs of hurricane period and were among bringing products to markets. South Carolina State the few Virgin Islanders who had Senator Dick Elliot says, ³>7KH KLJK FRVW RI IXHO@ LV light, refrigeration, hot showers, flush toilets, and the ability to EUHDNLQJIDPLOLHVLW¶VEUHDNLQJEXVLQHVVHVLW¶VZUHDNLQJ communicate with the outside 59 havoc ZLWKWKHHFRQRPLFV\VWHP«DOORYHUWKHQDWLRQ´ world.61 There are also major economic impacts from the lost revenue during power interruptions, and the costs to With these considerations in mind, it is clear that repair damages when power interruptions are the result SHUSHWXDWLQJ$PHULFD¶VSURblematic petroleum paradigm of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, is an affront to the needs of individuals and businesses. tornadoes and earthquakes. Roberta Stauffer FRQFOXGHV ³No matter who ends up paying the ommunity Living damages, insurance companies or individual businesses, C There is no section of this report with less power outages are costly. Even brief outages caused by empirical support than this one. Yet to omit it would be minor disturbances in power transmission systems cause to miss an important opportunity. Taking up residence an estimated $3 billion to $5 billion in damages each in the ideological condo-complex called conservatism are year in the United States. Outages are also costly to the ERWK ³FRPPXQLWDULDQV´ DQG ³OLEHUWDULDQV´  2Q WKH utilities themselves.´60 Renewable power sources can surface, it might be tempting to compartmentalize the help prevent the kind of extended outages that keep the two groups as a living, breathing oxymoron. Yet they cash register closed. StDXIIHU¶V UHSRUW UHFDOOV WKH have more in common than one might first suspect. positive experience of the Harmony Resort in the U.S. The communitarian prizes voluntary community with Virgin Islands: friends and family. His motivations are likely to be A recent example of this benefit spiritual as he adheres to enduring truths about the involves the Harmony Resort facility nature of personal fulfillment resulting from a life of at Maho Bay Campground on St. service, sacrifice, and hard work. He takes great John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Energy and the Republican Party 23 pleasure in communing with natural things²with life as great fulfillment and satisfaction in going it alone. The it was meant to be²unfettered by compromises to communities or homes in which they live reflect a desire modern life. He is likely to eschew consumerism, for self-sufficiency. Each is likely to eschew modern preferring to invest his time and resources in consumerism and look to their community or their experiences and relationships rather than in possessions. immediate family to be the source and object of their He will enjoy the company of his neighbors and invest in joy. their lives. He will not have a bumper sticker that says, The current American Energy Paradigm, then, ought ³+H ZKR GLHV ZLWK WKH PRVW WR\V ZLQV´ ,Q IDFW KH¶G to represent an uncomfortable dependence on the probably rather not have a car on which to put a outside world. The libertarian should be uneasy about bumper sticker in the first place. the stranglehold gasoline has on his mobility; and the The communitarian is likely to have a fondness for tenuous availability of electricity required to pursue his local farmers and an agrarian lifestyle: living off the land liberties. and working side-by-side with family and friends to Likewise, the communitarian is likely to abhor the create things. In short, he will value self-sufficiency. But cold, impersonal and distant design of American WKHZRUG³VHOI´ZLOOKDYHDFRPPXQDOGHILQLWLRQ communities that has served to isolate Americans in The libertarian prizes the rights of the individual over mortgaged monuments to achievement. DOOHOVH+HZLOOUHPLQG\RXWKDW³*ROGZDWHUHPSKDVL]HG In general, mainstream conservatives value the individual choice and believed that each individual citizen traditional relationships of family and community as well, was responsible for his or her own spiritual though they do so with less ideological fervor. Today our GHYHORSPHQW&RQVHUYDWLYHV*ROGZDWHUWKRXJKWµVKRXOG communities are, more often than not, reflective of our VWDQGIRUIUHHGRPDQGRQO\IUHHGRP¶´62 He will want to ability to commute, rather than our desire to commune. encourage all people to choose whatever they want from The suburbs are distant places that are not designed to OLIH¶V RIIHULQJV DV ORQJ DV RWKHUV DUH QRW KDUPHG +H foster community interaction: the sprawling exurbs, less believes his body and his property are his own and no so, at least when the daily commute is taken into other person or government should be able to force him consideration. According to the Texas Transportation to act or not act in a specific manner. The Libertarian Institute (part of Texas A&M University), in 2009 the 3DUW\3ODWIRUPQRWHVWKDWOLEHUWDULDQV³EHOLHYHWKDWEHLQJ average American spent 36 hours per year stuck in free and independent is a great way to OLYH´ traffic beyond the normal commute time, well more than ³/LEHUWDULDQVUHFRJQL]HWKHUHVSRQVLELOLW\ZHDOOVKDUHWR double the 1982 average of 14 hours per year.64 This preserve this precious heritage for our children and lost time impinges on family time, work productivity, JUDQGFKLOGUHQ´ ³:H ZDQW D V\VWHP ZKLFK UHVSHFWV WKH family finances and, often, PRP¶V JHQHUDOO\ VXQQ\ LQGLYLGXDO´63 In short, the libertarian will value self- disposition. sufficiency. Today, though, we see new communities being Buried in those broad descriptions are similarities and designed that are more reflective of the benefits that differences. The connection with energy lies in the idea come from neighborly, engaged communities, and often that both the communitarians and the libertarians find

Energy and the Republican Party 24 they are designed around energy efficiency in order to conservative soul from the natural beauty around us. maximize the use of time and money. These natural beauties are rejuvenating and uplifting. The increasing financial pressures on families are Here in America, they are the source of great wealth, prevalent, and people are looking for ways to decrease and the creator of prosperity as well. We have ample their overhead. The gigantic McMansions of the 80s and natural subsistence to last millennia. We have the 90s, reflective of a liberal use of land and money, may luxury of being able to feed ourselves without the need EHRQWKHRXWVDVFRQVHUYDWLYHVGLVFRYHUWKDWWKH\GRQ¶W for imports. need all that space. Smaller homes cost less to build ³The environment´ (just saying it invokes liberal and buy, and they cost less to heat and cool. They take connotations) once was, and still should be, a less time to clean (i.e., more time with the kids) and conservative priority. The liberal talk radio host (a they generally encourage more family interaction. rarity, to be sure) Bill Press writes, ³,EHOLHYHWKDWRQHRI Furthermore, communities designed around the stranger contradictions about contemporary politics sustainability usually have well-kept common areas for is how saving the environment came to be known as a FKLOG¶V SOD\ GRJ ZDONLQJ DQG FRPPXQLQJ ZLWK liberal issue²embraced by Democrats, but ridiculed by neighbors. Having these common areas reduces the 5HSXEOLFDQV ,W VKRXOGQ¶W EH WKDW ZD\ DQG LW ZDVQ¶W need for each person to have a large yard that costs aOZD\V´65 money to purchase and maintain. Such developments Three issues of great importance to the conservative also require less land. In short, these communities are come out of our thanksgiving for our great physical GHVLJQHGWR³FRQVHUYH´ nation: biblical stewardship, protecting the outdoors for The trend in these types of communities is called recreation, and eminent domain. ³PXOWL-XVH´ PHDQLQJ SHRSOH OLYH ZRUN DQG SOD\ LQ greater proximity. Again, this increases community biblical stewardship interaction and investments, and decreases commuting Stewardship issues are not unique to Bible-believing time and expenditures. These types of communities are conservatives, though many, if not most, conservatives popping up all over America²Salt Lake City, DeQYHU¶V possess a deep spirituality and belief in God. This Stapleton Development, and around Washington D.C. characteristic tends to enhance the sense of Metro stops like Roslyn, VA, to name a few. Potentially, thanksgiving and stewardship in conservative thinking. these communities offer the opportunity to demonstrate For those who are scripturally literate, the most often new paradigms for electrical power generation and quoted text concerning the relationship between humans delivery. and the earth is in Genesis: ³6R*RGFUHDWHGKXPDQNLQG in His image, in the image of God He created them; merica the Beautiful male and female He created them. God blessed them, A One of the great blessings bestowed on America DQG*RGVDLGWRWKHP³%HIUXLWIXODQGPXOWLSO\DQGILOO is our land. It is a vast and wonderful place. Edmund the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the Burke, Theodore Roosevelt, Russell Kirk and Barry fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over Goldwater all wrote extensively of the joy in the every living thing thaW PRYHV XSRQ WKH HDUWK´ *HQ

Energy and the Republican Party 25

1:27-28 NRSV). This is often referred to as the XVHG IRU WKH UXOH RI ,VUDHO¶V NLQJ ³GRPLQLRQ text´ and its key provisions are that God gave RYHU ,VUDHO¶V HQHPLHV  Kings 4:24 [Hebrew, 1 Kings 5:4]), or KXPDQV ³GRPLQLRQ´ RYHU all of creation and humans IRU WKH UXOH RI ,VUDHO¶V HQHPLHV VKRXOG³VXEGXH´WKHHDUWK over Israel itself (Lev. 26:17). In There are many Evangelicals today who take this all cases, radah signifies the power, control, and authority of text at its face value: humans should subdue the earth one individual or group over and rule over it. Taken in this context, little thought another. needs to be given to stewardship for future Similar conclusions may be drawn generations²sRPHKRZ *RG¶V SODQ ZLOO XQIROG 7KH about the phUDVH ³VXEGXH WKH resources we have today are the result of Divine HDUWK´ LQ *HQ  7KH YHUE benevolence and exist for our sole use and benefit. This ³VXEGXH´ IURP WKH +HEUHZ line of thinking often dovetails with apocalyptic thinking kavash, depicts a hierarchical relationship in which humans are DQG³5DSWXUH7KHRORJ\´WKDWIRUHWHOOVWKHVHFRQGFRPLQJ positioned above the earth and of Christ. Within this camp, adherents are likely to see are granted power and control doom and gloom climate prognostications as potentially over it. The verb kavash is even more forceful than radah, the means by which the end of the world is brought. describing the actual act of $Q\ KXPDQ DWWHPSW WR IRUHVWDOO *RG¶V SODQ WR EULQJ subjugation, of forcing another about the end-times would make one an agent of the into a subordinate position. It is used for military conquest, where Anti-Christ. the same phrase used in Gen. A brief exegesis of the Genesis text is useful.  ³VXEGXH WKH HDUWKODQG´ McCormick Theological Seminary Professor Theodore can be employed to depict the destruction and occupation of Hiebert does the heavy lifting: conquered territory (Num. 32:22, The inescapable fact about the   ,W LV DOVR XVHG RI WKH NLQJ¶V ELEOLFDOWHUP³GRPLQLRQ´IURPWKH forcing his people into slavery Hebrew verb radah, is that it DJDLQVW *RG¶V ZLVKHV -HU  grants humans the right and 16), and of rape (Esther 7:8; Neh. responsibility to rule, to govern 5:5). In many of these cases, the the rest of creation. It establishes abuse {19} of power is patently a hierarchy of power and obvious. authority in which the human race is positioned above the rest of the Within this textual context, natural world. Such a conclusion several clues have been is clear from the use of radah discovered suggesting that elsewhere in the Old Testament, dominion was understood in it as where it is employed for the rule benevolent rule characterized by of the head of the house over restraint. One of these clues is the household servants (Lev. 25:43) image of God itself, a feature of DQGRI6RORPRQ¶VRIILFHUVRYHUKLV this account that emphasizes conscripted labor force (1 Kings human distinctiveness and 5:16 [Hebrew, 1 Kings 5:30]). On authority. Yet if the image of God the international scene, radah is

Energy and the Republican Party 26

means that humans have not a x *RG¶VFRYHQDQWZLWK1RDKLVZLWKWKH³ZRUOG´DOO special essence but a special that flies, all that walks and all that swims. It is function or task, and if that a covenant with humanity within the fullness of VSHFLDOIXQFWLRQLVWRDFWDV*RG¶V representative or authorized creation. agent on earth, as some have x In 1 Colossians 1:15-18, Paul says that Jesus claimed (Bird 1981, 137-44), then &KULVW LV WKH ILUVW IUXLW RI DOO FUHDWLRQ 6R *RG¶V human rule is not absolute, but is to be carried out in accordance covenant with Noah is renewed and enhanced with the intention and design of by the covenant God makes with Christ. the divine sovereign who x ,Q-RKQ ³$QG*RGVRORYHGWKHZRUOG«  delegated it. And if that divine sovereign exercises power WKH³ZRUOG´LVUHDOO\WKHQDWXUDOZRUOG (the greek benevolently as Genesis 1 in fact word kosmos-- NGVPRQ   6R *RG¶V JLIW RI +LV depicts God as doing²bringing all Son for us, creates a covenant between God and of life into existence, considering 67 it all good, placing it all within a all of creation. {20} harmonious ecosystem² Being conservatives, we have an abiding sense that WKHQ KXPDQV DV *RG¶V ZH PXVW WDNH FDUH RI ZKDW ZH¶YH EHHQ JLIWHG XVH LW representatives or agents, should wisely, and pass it responsibly to those who come after exercise the power granted them in order to achieve the same us. God Almighty has given us this earth and given us 66 ends. dominion over it. But dominion implies more than just

power. It comes with the attendant duty to care for it. It Biblical study can often be as problematic as the use is not solely for our use, but for the use of future of statistics²a case can be made for virtually anything. generations. As those before us have cared for the earth However, further Old Testament study on the and passed it to us, we too share that obligation. relationship between man and the earth leads the Similarly, while we have dominion over our children inquisitive to Leviticus: "The land shall not be sold in we raise them with tender care, investing in them with perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but our time, money and love that they may grow and aliens and tenants. Throughout the land that you hold, prosper: likewise with the planet. We share a sacred you shall provide for the redemption of the land" obligation to think about the future. (Leviticus 25:23-24). Here God defines the relationship The magnitude of these gifts is astounding. Newt in clear terms: man is but a tenant, taking care of what Gingrich FDWDORJHG $PHULFD¶V DEXQGDQFH LQ April of belongs to God. Implied is that God will re-rent it to the 2009: ³Let's be clear: our energy crisis is not due to a next generation. But the text is clear that man is to be lack of American energy resources. We have more coal responsible while he is in possession of what belongs to than any other country in the world. There are 86 billion God. barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas Martin Palmer is the CEO of the Alliance of Religions lying undeveloped offshore. Shale-oil reservoirs in parts and Conservation based in the UK. In a personal of Colorado and Utah could hold upwards of 1 trillion conversation he highlighted other relevant theological barrels of oil--more than three times the proven reserves ideas:

Energy and the Republican Party 27 in Saudi Arabia. Nuclear power is a clean source of fabric. Hunting and fishing is not just a pastime, energy that produces zero carbon emissions. It though²it is also big business. According to the U.S. generates 20 percent of America's electric power today, Fish and Wildlife Service, more than $8.4 billion in and with the right investment, could generate far revenue is generated in Pennsylvania, New York and PRUH´68 This is a situation that has dramatically West Virginia²the three largest Marcellus Shale states² improved since his writing, with the discovery here in from fishing, hunting, and wildlife-related recreation. the U.S. of vast expanses of oil and natural gas trapped And across the region there are over 13 million in shale formations that can now be recovered through sportsmen and women whose interests are at stake.70 hydro fracturing. The situation is similar out West, on the Pinedale But to what extent will conservatives go to preserve $QWLFOLQHLQ3LQHGDOH:\RPLQJ³Approximately 100,000 the past at the expense of the future? What damage will big-game animals migrate through, and seasonally use, be done to our fertile soil and our open spaces in pursuit the upper Green River area, making it an American of those riches? The current American Energy Paradigm Serengeti. Mule deer, pronghorn, moose, sage grouse exacts a great toll on Americans as stewards of her and other game species use all or portions of the PAPA bounty for future generations. Former Congressman [Pinedale Anticline Project Area] throughout the year. Mickey Edwards writes in Reclaiming Conservatism, ³7KH The New Fork River and Green River, both world-class great conservative thinkers considered humans the trout fisheries, are within the PAPA and support VWHZDUGV RI WKH SODQHW 0DQ\ RI WRGD\¶V FRQVHUYDWLYHV thousands of anglers per year.´71 seem to believe less in maximizing freedom or These popular hunting and fishing areas are safeguarding the planet than in maximizing profit. If our diminishing with the encroachment of new oil FKLOGUHQVXIIHUVREHLW´69 exploration. Todd Tanner is a conservationist and writer who has watched unamused as the Pinedale Anticline is outdoorsmen EHLQJ VORZO\ HUDVHG ³/DQG WKDW XVHG WR EH FULWLFDO Many conservatives enjoy the outdoors, whether in habitat for mule deer, pronghorn and sage grouse has the aesthetic sense of Burke and Kirk, the practical been bulldozed, roaded and drilled until it looks more sense of those who work the land for subsistence, or like a vast industrial site than some of the best winter those who recreate by hunting, camping, and hiking. range in Wyoming.´72 ³,Q VKRUW WKH %XUHDX RI /DQG All around us, our natural playgrounds are under Management is taking valuable wildlife habitat that DWWDFN IURP $PHULFD¶V (QHUJ\ 3DUDGLJP  According to WKH\¶YHEHHQHQWUXVWHGWRPDQDJHODQGWKDWEHORQJVWR the Sportsmen Alliance for Marcellus Conservation, the every single American, and turning it over lock, stock 0DUFHOOXV 6KDOH ILHOGV LQ ZHVWHUQ 3HQQV\OYDQLD ³KDYH D and barrel to energy companies who have very little rich heritage of hunting, fishing, trapping and other incentive to protect the public domain.´73 outdoor traditions on public and private lands²the very The effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico places targeted for Marcellus Shale gas drilling. Passed are reaching outdoorsmen all the way to Montana. Bob down from generation to generation, these sporting Sanders, of Conservation Unlimited in Montana, says, traditions have become a part of the cultural and social ³0DQ\ WHDO DQG GLYLQJ GXFNV ZLQWHU DORQJ EUDFNLVK

Energy and the Republican Party 28 coastal wetlands. Oil is toxic to crustaceans, would be in keeping with conservative traditions of invertebrates, and submergent plants that ducks eat, so conservation. LW¶V NLOOLQJ WKHLU IRRG VRXUFH $QG RLO JHWV RQ WKHLU The Ivanpah project, though, is an example of IHDWKHUV 7KH\ VLQN DQG GURZQ´74 This has resulted in values-based concessions Americans are making in diminished hunting opportunities for Montanans. support of a system that is exists in opposition to core Electrical transmission lines to carry increased conservative values. capacity are a high-wire plaid, crisscrossing the nation at the expense of our natural bounty. Even when the eminent domain power being generated is clean wind power, our reliance Particularly in the case of transmission lines, eminent on a national electrical grid comes at the expense of domain is increasingly being used to take private lands WUDGLWLRQDO FRQVHUYDWLYH YDOXHV  %ULJKW6RXUFH (QHUJ\¶V from citizens. Given the conservative emphasis on Ivanpah solar power project in the Mojave Desert is justice and property, this should be particularly insulting. worth considering. The project will erect a solar 5RVV6H\IULHG¶VVWRU\LQ2UHJRQLVLQVWUXFWLYH collecting tower, 400 feet tall. 173,000 garage door sized mirrors will be computer controlled to reflect sun The Elksong Ranch encompasses light to the top of the tower where it will be collected 7,000 acres of mixed conifer forest and rolling hills outside La Grande, and used to heat water to over 1000 degrees creating Ore. The ranch is home to large steam that will drive turbines creating more than 370 numbers of elk, the fruit of many megawatts of power²enough to power at least 144,000 \HDUV¶ ODERU UHVXOWLQJ IURP RZQHU 5RVV 6H\IULHG¶V GUHDP WR ³ILQG D homes.75 On the surface, this is all good: renewable piece of land, rehabilitate it and power produced in the desert. However, in order to PDNH LW DQ HON IDFWRU\´ 6H\IULHG D produce the power, 3500 acres of public land have been fourth-generation rancher from Colorado, renowned marksman and wiped out, more than six square miles. The devastation writer, spent more than five years will affect birds, insects, desert tortoises and plant life. finding a place that fit his criteria ± Additionally, thousands of miles of transmission lines will one that could produce elk and need to be built to deliver the power to American serve as a model for how landscapes can recover given the homes.76 These latter statistics would usually be the right vision and a nurturing hand. ammunition liberal groups would use to execute the erection of such a project. However, the fear of climate While Seyfried was addressing restoration challenges, he never change has forced adversaries to make important dreamed that his next challenge concessions in the name of mitigating the effects of would involve defending his climate change. Conservatives with an inclination to property against the encroachment of power lines to support renewable support conservation are also complicit. Yet, this energy production in Oregon. One hypocrisy is a result of assuming that the national day while going about his ranch electrical grid is still a paradigm worth perpetuating. duties, Seyfried noticed surveyors placing markers through the middle Appendix I discusses another way forward, one that of the Elksong. The markers plotted

Energy and the Republican Party 29

a preferred route for a proposed legislation stemming from those values; invalidating transmission line. Until then, climate change as the primary impetus for energy Seyfried had been unaware of this legislation; and addressing the personal and relevant project ± DQGKHGLGQ¶WOLNHOHDUQLQJ of it unexpectedly, after markers concerns facing Americans today. already were set in place. The proposed transmission line through the Elksong formed a section of the eize the Political Momentum larger Boardman to Hemingway line S For Republican politicians, advocating for an energy proposed by Idaho Power. revolution provides an opportunity to verbalize core Seyfried, a lifelong hunter- values and demonstrate commitment to them. conservationist, is like most One obstacle²and an opportunity²stems from Americans in that he supports renewable energy and economic whether conservatives can effectively link changes to development. But he does not our energy system to core values that have always been support the invasion of workers, in place, but that have gradually been marginalized. The trucks and metal power lines crossing a land that has experienced pursuit of a New American Energy Paradigm ZRXOGQ¶t incredible conservation gains simply represent an ideological change, but rather the practical, through reduced human activity. and focused application of conservative values to a The threat of a power line running common theme in the common problems of every across the Elksong and his hard work being squandered is enough to American. A new, inspiring language, steeped in possibly drive this self-described traditional conservatism, needs to be carefully applied in ³FRQVHUYDWLRQ IDQDWLF´ RXW RI WKH order to demonstrate consistency rather than flip- Oregon country and away from the Elksong.77 flopping. ,Q WRGD\¶V K\SHU-partisan political climate, LW¶V ZRUWK )RU FRQVHUYDWLYHV VWRULHV OLNH 6H\IULHG¶V DUH noting, if not emphasizing, that from the standpoint of disheartening in the extreme. The fact that utilities and values, there is commonality between the intellectual governments could have accumulated so much power DQGWKHRUHWLFDOYDOXHVRIWHQHVSRXVHGE\³SURJUHVVLYHV´ WKDWDQLQGLYLGXDO¶VSURSHUW\FDQEHDEVFRQGHG HYHQDW (used frequently as a synonym for liberals and D ³PDUNHW SULFH´  FOHDUO\ SRLQWV WR D V\VWHP GHHSO\ democrats) and the conservative values outlined thus opposed to our values. Energy sprawl is an affront to far. In a December 20, 2011, article entitled ³The Real everything conservatives believe. Attack on the Spirit of Christmas Comes from the Right Wing,´ Robert Creamer, the author of Stand Up Straight: how republicans win How Progressives Can Win ZULWHV ³, EHOieve that progressive values²love your neighbor and empathy² Actively advocating for the creation of a New are our greatest evolutionary treasure. Progressive American Energy Paradigm presents several benefits to values: that we're all in this together, not all in this Republicans. These include having an opportunity to alone; unity not division; hope not fear; equality not specifically state conservative values, and proposing subjugation; the premise that if each of us is better

Energy and the Republican Party 30 educated all of us will be wiser; that it is not true that From a long-term, national perspective, the for me to be richer you have to be poorer²but rather commonalities are good news. They create opportunities that if each of us is more prosperous, all of us will have to build a consensus among all Americans for a New more opportunity; that our success comes from Energy Paradigm. But seizing this opportunity is time cooperation and mutual respect. These progressive sensitive. If values-driven progressives are the first to values are the most precious assets that will give human take the initiative, advancing a New Energy Paradigm beings the ability to make it through that gauntlet²and consistent with these values, rather than using climate WR FUHDWH D WUXO\ GHPRFUDWLF VRFLHW\´78 There are only change as their impetus, two things might happen. First, VHPDQWLF GLIIHUHQFHV EHWZHHQ &UHDPHU¶V V\QWKHVLV DQG Democrats would gain the upper hand in being seen as the conservative values presented above: community, the party willing to address the personal and relevant human dignity, opportunity, and investment. concerns of Americans. And, second, the opportunity to Author Bill Press further hints at the idea of missed actually create a New American Energy Paradigm might opportunities from commonality, writing, ³(YHQ PDQ\ be lost, as Republicans would likely see both energy and Democrats today would agree that we need smaller climate change as the causes of the Left, increasing government, lower taxes and spending, tougher anti- their ambivalence and resistance. crime measures, and less Washington meddling in our GDLO\OLYHV´79 Yet the mental models of party identification make F ocus on Values communication between conservatives and progressives The Republican Party needs to re-brand itself as the difficult. The language exists to foster cooperation, but Party of conservative consistency, and a party concerned the two sides would likely view the other with great with the personal and relevant needs of Americans. suspicion, as if, though using the same words and trying 21st Century political rhetoric has created a climate to make the same points, one side was trying to where there are ERWK ³5HSXEOLFDQ YDOXHV´ DQG hoodwink the other through a nefarious rhetorical ³FRQVHUYDWLYHYDOXHV,´DQGWKH\RIWHQGRQ¶WPHVK sleight of hand. In 1994, Newt Gingrich became the Speaker of the On Sunday, April 1, 2012, Vice President Joe Biden House. According to former Congressman Mickey DSSHDUHGRQ&%6¶V³Face the Nation´ with Bob Schieffer, (GZDUGV ³8QGHU *LQJULFK¶V OHDGHUVKLS FRQVHUYDWLYHV ZKHUHWKH93VDLG³7KLV>$PHULFD¶VFXUUHQWVLWXDWLRQ@LV became Republicans first and conservatives second (a about the middle class; and what affects middle class factor that eventually led to the strange sight of a people? Their jobs, being able to own a home, being ³FRQVHUYDWLYH´ &RQJUHVV FUHDWLQJ PDMRU QHZ VSHQGLQJ able to live in a safe neighborhood, being able to send SURJUDPV DQG IXHOLQJ UHFRUG GHILFLWV « ,QVWHDG RI WKH WKHLU NLGV WR FROOHJH ,W¶V DERXW WKHLU GLJQLW\´80 How Republican Party becoming an arm of conservatism, PDQ\ 5HSXEOLFDQV ZDWFKLQJ WKDW PRUQLQJ VDLG ³FRQVHUYDWLYH@ PRYHPHQW´81 The sole aim of political Republicans glossed over the emergent common parties is to attain and maintain power, DQG *LQJULFK¶V ground. tenure was singularly focused on defeating the

Energy and the Republican Party 31

Democrats. He espoused the same big-government of urgency to most Americans. Very few of us are ideology of the political left. His objective was not the concerned that our pet polar bear is going to make it promotion of good governance through applied through the night; nor are many of us worried that our conservatism, EXW D 5HSXEOLFDQ FRXS G¶pWDW +LV OHJDF\ home towns will flood anytime soon, creating an lives on in Congress and in the culture of 21st Century $PHULFDQ $WODQWLV 0RVW SHRSOH GRQ¶W IHHO SHUVRQDOOy 5HSXEOLFDQLVP (GZDUGV VXPPDUL]HV *LQJULFK¶V HIIHFW threatened by climate change because it is vague, nicely: ³:KHQSDUW\FRPHVILUVW, principle does not come abstract, and difficult to visualize. For most of us, more VHFRQG LW JHWV ORVW DOWRJHWKHU´82 And liberal pressing concerns grab our attention, like car payments, FRPPHQWDWRU %LOO 3UHVV DJUHHV ³7KH\ PLJKW VWLOO FDOO LW school loans, an ailing child, and health insurance. FRQVHUYDWLVPEXWLWZDVQ¶WWKHVDPHDQLPDO´83 &KDQJLQJ $PHULFD¶V (QHUJ\ 3DUDGLJP addresses these If the GOP is willing to begin talking about the issues head on. Republicans win by understanding and current American Energy Paradigm as an affront to sympathizing with the personal and relevant concerns of conservative values, the GOP can begin to rebuild the American citiizens. foundation of the Party, not as the Party that seems to Simon Sinek, the author of "Start with Why: How simply exist to oppose the Democrats, but as a party Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action," says

´3HRSOHGRQ·WEX\what you do. They buy why \RXGRLWµ Simon Sinek

that stands for something valued and worthwhile. UHSHDWHGO\ LQD7HGFRPYLGHR³3HRSOHGRQ¶WEX\what The Republican Party has the opportunity (if not the you do. They buy why \RXGR LW´84 This might be one need) to change the way in which it operates. This is reason why climate change legislation has been difficult good for America. Not simply because managing the WR SDVV SHRSOH GRQ¶W EX\ LW DV D FDXVH ZRUWK\ RI WKH next unique energy opportunity is necessary for America costs. However, people will almost always vote in their to retain its preeminent global position; and not just self-interest and, while climate change is vague and because conservative politics is good for America abstract, energy is specific and immediate. (though about half of Americans would argue the opposite); but also because the Democrats would T he Tea Party benefit from a similar shift away from doing business as A significant factor for many elected Republicans usual. The GOP has the opportunity to model a better today is the Tea Party Movement. On its surface, the political process while simultaneously promoting their Tea Party Platform (below) appears entirely consistent values, which are far more universal than their policies. with core conservative values. However, supporters of the Tea Party movement are insisting on a rigid and B e Personal and Relevant dogmatic application of these principles, which is While the climate change debate may be of great creating strong divisions within the Republican Party. concern to many in a theoretical sense, it lacks a sense Consequently, the movement has come about as a

Energy and the Republican Party 32 competitive force from within against Republicans rather interference is what propelled this than an attempt to help Republicans define their own country to greatness with an enduring belief in the industriousness and values and support GOP candidates. innovations of the populace.

Movement goals of the Tea Party 5. Abide by the Constitution of movement, which are as follows: the United States - The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the 1. Eliminate Excessive Taxes - land and must be adhered to without Excessively high taxes are a burden exception at all levels of government. for those exercising their personal This includes the Bill of Rights and liberty to work hard and prosper as other Amendments to the U.S. afforded by the Constitution. A fiscally Constitution and their provisions responsible government protects the GHVLJQHGWRSURWHFWVWDWHV¶ULJKWVDQG freedom of its citizens to enjoy the individual liberties. fruits of their own labor without interference from a government that 6. Promote Civic Responsibility - has exceeded its necessary size, scope Citizen involvement at the grassroots and reach into the lives of its citizens. level allows the voice of the American people to be heard and directs the 2. Eliminate the National Debt - political behaviors of our By implementing fiscally conservative representatives at both the local and policies at all levels of government, national level so they, in turn, may be progress can be made toward most effective in working to preserve eliminating the U.S. National Debt. the life, liberty and pursuit of Massive increases in the National Debt KDSSLQHVVRIWKLVFRXQWU\¶VFLWL]HQV have created and continue to create a huge burden for the next generation 7. Reduce the Overall Size of of Americans, thus imperiling the Government - A bloated FRXQWU\¶V VKRUW-term and long-term bureaucracy creates wasteful economic health and prosperity. spending that plagues our government. Reducing the overall 3. Eliminate Deficit Spending - All size, scope and reach of government deficit spending must be eliminated at both local and national levels will immediately. We insist that help to eliminate inefficiencies that government representatives at all result in deficit spending which adds levels maintain a fiscally responsible WRRXUFRXQWU\¶VGHEW budget and balance the books as would be expected of any American 8. Believe in the People - The business. American people, given their guaranteed freedoms, will thrive in a 4. Protect Free Markets - $PHULFD¶V democratic, capitalist environment free enterprise system allows which allows individuals to strive businesses to thrive as they compete toward ever greater achievements, in the open marketplace and strive innovations and the efficient toward ever better services and production of needed and valued products. Allowing free markets to goods and services. prosper unfettered by government

Energy and the Republican Party 33

9. Avoid the Pitfalls of Politics - States, if our economic policies (many of which are American politics is burdened by big frighteningly similar to those in Europe such as deficit money from lobbyists and special spending and excessive national debts) are not changed. interests with an undue influence on WKHSHRSOHV¶UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV7KH7HD If a singular theme emerges from Tea Party ideology it Party movement is seen as a threat to is fiscal: lower taxes and limited federal budgets. This the entrenched political parties and global economic climate gives weight to Tea Party thus is the continual target of smear campaigns and misrepresentation of ideology, if not the movement itself. its ideals. We choose not to respond And yet a New American Energy Paradigm would to these attacks except to strongly address the fiscal concerns raised by the Tea Party: and explicitly disavow any and all hate speech, any and all violence as well as limiting spending, and the reach and scope of the insinuations of violence, and any and federal government. all extreme and fringe elements that As insightful and enduring as the American system of bring discredit to the Tea Party Movement. We are a peaceful government is, it was never intended for an uninvolved movement and respect other's electorate. Yet apathy rules the day in modern politics. opinions and views even though they The greatest effect of this voter apathy is that small, do not agree with our own. We stand well-organized, and vocal organizations can have a by the Tea Party beliefs and goals and choose to focus our energies on disproportionate amount of influence over the political ensuring that our government process. Take, for instance, Agenda 21. Agenda 21 was representatives do the same. a 100-page resolution in the United Nations in 1992 to 10. Maintain Local Independence - encourage nations to conserve natural resources and The strength and resilience of a land by promoting urban living. Two decades later, Tea grassroots movement is the ability of citizens at the local level to determine 3DUW\DFWLYLVWVDUHNLOOLQJ³VPDUWJURZWK´SURMHFWVLQFLWLHV their own platforms, agendas and DFURVV WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV IHDUIXO WKDW ³Government will priorities free of an overriding central leadership. Exercising the clearly control how hot your shower may be, how much air stated message of the Tea Party conditioning or heat you may use," writes Tom DeWeese movement by its nature involves discourse about which policies and of the American Policy Center, an intellectual parent of candidates best hold to our stated the end-Agenda 21 movement.86 DeWeese has been principles, and these various opinions should flourish and evolve at the local speaking out against Agenda 21 for years, with little to level.85 show for it, until he took it to the Tea Party in 2009. If Republicans begin talking about creating a New The message began to take root, and sprouted like Energy Paradigm consistent with conservative values, bamboo when talk show host Glenn Beck gave it they will be simultaneously respecting the core concerns fourteen minutes of airtime on Fox News.87 of the Tea Party, contributing to Party unity. Therefore WKH 7HD 3DUW\¶V FRQFHUQV RYHU VPDUW The global economic climate is empowering Tea growth policies have become another impediment to Party principles as well. Many view the European DGGUHVVLQJ$PHULFD¶VHQHUJ\-related woes. Yet, a New economic collapse as foreshadowing for the United American Energy Paradigm, if properly designed, should

Energy and the Republican Party 34 address these specific concerns. A New American FRXOGQ¶W DQWLFLSDWH LQ  WKH UDSLG VSUHDG RI WKH Energy Paradigm, where energy production is analogous Internet and the acceptance of email. WH FRXOGQ¶W to a home appliance (see Appendix I), would allow anticipate in 2000 the iPad, Twitter and Facebook. With citizens to create and use as much power as they want history as our tutor, all we can say with certainty is that independent of corporate monopolies and government the coming decades will bring the continuous march of interference, thus promoting liberty. In fact, citizens technology across the landscape of the modern world. opposed to Agenda 21 should be the strongest As American Theocracy author Kevin Phillips points supporters of local, diverse and distributed power out, sustaining global preeminence is likely to require generation. Rather than representing a change that having the wherewithal to manage new energy offends their values, a conservatively designed Energy opportunities. In order to do so, America must invest in Paradigm would respect their concerns. innovating those opportunities. In order to be consistent The Tea Party, with conservative values, a New American Energy in an attempt to Paradigm should allow for independent operation and brand themselves foster citizen involvement. Without being prescriptive, it the keepers of might be helpful to envision that power generation, for true Republican transportation and electrification, would be analogous to (and by extension, conservative) orthodoxy, has been a household appliance. Americans would produce as known to call non-7HD 3DUWLHUV ³5,12V´ 5HSXEOLFDQ ,Q much energy as they needed for whatever power needs Name Only. The use of RINO as a pejorative has had they have. As such, we would be unconstrained in our the effect of pressuring mainstream Republicans to take consumption, except the requirement to use less than sometimes uncomfortable positions. However, tackling we produce²much in the same way that we can use as energy from a conservative standpoint would allow much air conditioning in our homes as our budget and Republicans and the Tea Party to rediscover the HVAC system can handle. common ground that should unite them. It has taken America about 100 years to create the energy paradigm we have today²to develop the how americans win transportation infrastructure and electrical grid on which we depend so heavily. So it would not be surprising if This report is intentionally non-prescriptive about creating a New American Energy Paradigm took another what a New American Energy Paradigm might look like. 50 to 100 years. But time goes quickly. It was only 50 Specific proposals are easily refuted and would reflect years ago that America committed to putting a man on WKH DXWKRU¶V OLPLWHG LPDJLQDWLRQ 5DWKHU LW LV EHVW WR WKH PRRQ $QG LW¶V EHHQ only 31 years since Ronald trust the collective creativity of America to create Reagan took office. In retrospect, both of these events something enduring and innovative. In our lifetimes seem like recent history to most middle-aged Americans. technology has radically changed the way we live in So how might Americans benefit from a New Energy unexpected ways. For example, we FRXOGQ¶WDQWLFLSDWHLQ Paradigm? In short, such a paradigm shift would 1980 the importance of the personal computer. We address all of the issues mentioned above in WKH³(QHUJ\

Energy and the Republican Party 35

7UHQG$QDO\VLV´VHFWLRQ(OLPLQDWLQJRXUQHHGIRUIRVVLO fuels would allow U.S. leaders to conduct foreign policy O il Prices and Crisis without having to appease the whims of unscrupulous, Not long ago²the late nineties, in fact²gas prices resource-rich nations. Diminishing oil revenues flowing were around a dollar a gallon. In the summer of 2008, into the Middle East would contribute to winning the the average price for a gallon of gasoline rose above Global War on Terror the same way the U.S. won the four dollars and something akin to a crisis may have Cold War: by bankrupting the enemy. Eliminating the been brewing. But those prices soon dipped back below national electrical grid would make the U.S. less four dollars. Since then, Americans have simply adjusted susceptible to terrorists and cyber terrorists as well as to a new normal. In reading reports and books lessen the impact of potential space weather events. published over the last decade about the relationship Minimizing our need for oil would protect the U.S. between the price of a barrel of oil and the U.S. economy from oil price-induced recessions, contributing economy, there is much gnashing of teeth over the dire to a more robust and sustainable economy. Power prospects for the U.S. economy if oil were to reach and generation from an appliance would eliminate utility bills (heaven forbid!) stay above $40 per barrel! (Sarcasm and minimize transportation costs, allowing Americans to intended.) Yet the price of oil has been hovering around keep more of their hard-earned wages for long-term $100 per barrel for well over a year now. savings, higher education, and spending to spur the Slowly adjusting expectations may have created the economy along. Minimizing our need to protect and perception that there is no crisis when there actually is defend oil production and lines of distribution would limit RQH ,W¶V ZRUWK QRWLQJ DJDLQ WKDW D VSLNH LQ RLO SULFHV the number of global conflicts requiring U.S. preceded five of the last six recessions in the United intervention, saving America money and protecting our States. The last significant spike occurred in the volunteer soldiers from needless conflicts. Eliminating summer of 2008, yielding those four-dollar per gallon the need for oil production here at home and electrical costs at the pump. Whether economists believe our transmission lines conserves our fruited plains and economy is still technically in a recession or not is a amber waves of grain for recreation and farming for our moot point to the majority of Americans floundering in a generation and generations to come. This also reduces stagnant economy. But this is a connection not being the instances of citizens ceding their land to repeatedly made in the press: that high oil prices, more unrestrained powers as a result of eminent domain. than any other factor, may be the major contributor to Saving our land reflects our spirit of thanksgiving for the the American economic bounty God has provided us. Creating a New Energy malaise. Americans are Paradigm inspires the great entrepreneurial spirit of the frog in the frying the Americans to commit to another grand challenge, pan and the water is innovating new industries, manufacturing new products, uncomfortably hot, but demonstrating the benefits of free markets, and putting not yet boiling. Americans to work in emerging economies. While economic factors play out slowly in the Two related topics deserve greater exploration. American psyche, the Iranians may be doing their best

E

Energy and the Republican Party 36 to provide an immediate oil crisis. On December 28, threatened by climate change because it is vague, 2011, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza abstract, and difficult to visualize. Additionally, for most Rahimi said that if the U.S. carries out economic of us, more pressing concerns grab our attention, like sanctions against Iran for pursuing its nuclear program, car payments, school loans, an ailing child, and health Iran would blockade the Straits of Hormuz, through insurance. Those crowd-out space for future threats. ZKLFKSHUFHQWRIWKHZRUOG¶VRLOSDVVHV 7KLVDORQH &RJQLWLYHVFLHQWLVWVKDYHUHIHUUHGKHUHWRWKHµILQLWHSRRO could send oil prices back towards their 2008 levels.88 RIZRUU\¶,QRWKHUZRUGVRXUEUDLQVFDQKDQGOHRQO\VR As mentioned above, space weather, or solar flares, mDQ\SUREOHPVDWDWLPH´90 has the potential to knock out portions of the U.S. So where climate change fails to motivate Americans electrical grid for a year or more. Now that would be a to make changes, a New American Energy Paradigm FULVLVWKDWZRXOGJHWSHRSOH¶VDWWHQWLRQ would address the things that matter most to Americans: lower fuel costs, fewer security E QHUJ\0DWWHUV &OLPDWH&KDQJH'RHVQ¶W vulnerabilities, fewer conflicts to fund with blood and Absent such nearly apocalyptic occurrences, treasure, increasingly profitable businesses, a recovering Americans are generally unconcerned about the current economy, protection of our natural resources for Energy Paradigm. Many Americans (mainly on the recreation and our progeny, and less government political left) view global climate change as a crisis, but intrusion in our lives. that is not an opinion shared by many Republicans), The opportunities arising from Conservative and, even under the worst scenarios, there are few ownership of creating a New American Energy Paradigm immediate negative impacts for the generations alive are important to America and the world. Innovating a

A solar storm has the potential to knock out parts of the electrical grid for up to a year. today. Climate change, though perhaps a crisis from an New American Energy Paradigm in the next half century anthropological point of view, is not perceived as an will place America in a leadership position and contribute immediate and relevant threat to Americans today. This to our moral authority in dealing with other nations, is a viewpoint supported by a November 2011 survey stemming from consistency and transparency of our conducted by Yale and George Mason Universities, in values in action. Additionally, it will save Americans which more than 50% of responders said that climate money, protect our natural resources and national FKDQJH ZLOO HLWKHU DIIHFW WKHP ³RQO\ D OLWWOH´ RU ³QRW DW playgrounds, reflect our interest in future generations, DOO´89 New York City journalist Keith Kloor attended the increase business profitability, reflect the widely held 2011 ³Climate, Mind and Behavior´ Conference at the belief in limiting the reach of the federal government, Garrison Institute in up-state New York. Kloor recently protect our military troops, increase national security, noted on the Yale Forum on Climate Change & the and create a greater range of foreign policy options. 0HGLD ZHEVLWH ³« PRVW SHRSOH GRQ¶W IHHO SHUVRQDOO\

Energy and the Republican Party 37 instruments of inertia a grandson; a can of Maxwell House. The youth asks why grandma still uses Maxwell House. She replies, ³:KHQVRPHWKLQJZRUNV\RXVWLFNZLWKLW´7KLVDWWLWXGH T he Current System Works (Well!) reflects current American thinking on energy. As Entrenched interests create tremendous inertia to SUHYLRXVO\ QRWHG LQ PDQ\ ZD\V WKHUH¶V PXFK WR maintain the current American Energy Paradigm. First, appreciate about the current American Energy Paradigm. and quite importantly, the current energy paradigm In fact, most people who give energy any thought at all works on the most basic level. In short, the current might want to make only minor tweaks to the system² paradigm is fossil fuel powered automobiles and the ³*DVFRXOGEHFKHDSHU&DQZHLQFUHDVHGRPHVWLFVXSSO\ national electrical grid; and they both work for what WR GULYH GRZQ FRVWV"´ ³3RZHU RXWDJHV DUH IUXVWUDWLQJ they are designed to do. With apologies to the Amish Can we improve reliability? Will making tKHJULGµVPDUW¶ and the residents of Mackinac Island, Michigan, it is safe LPSURYH FRVWV"´  &RQVXPHUV DUHQ¶W YHU\ LQQRYDWLYH to say that the pursuit of the American dream has taken SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ VROYLQJ SUREOHPV WKH\ GRQ¶W NQRZ WKH\ place in an automobile. Furthermore, the ability to be KDYH+HQU\)RUGRQFHQRWHG³,I,KDGDVNHGWKHSHRSOH productive has come as a result of the efficient creation, ZKDWWKH\ZDQWHGWKH\ZRXOGKDYHVDLGµIDVWHUKRUVHV¶´ distribution and use of electricity. Notwithstanding the In the energy world, faster horses are in the pen. occasional spike in gas prices and power outages, most Shale gas and shale oil are becoming increasingly Americans do not give gas or electricity a second prevalent. Their arrival provides useful and effective thought. These things are just a systemic part of answers to many of the issues presented in this report. With apologies to the Amish and the residents of Mackinac Island, Michigan, it is safe to say that the pursuit of the American dream has taken place in an automobile. modern society, like flush toilets. Occasionally, power They are not without their merits, but, unfortunately, outages interrupt American lives, sometimes for several many Americans see them as a solution in and of GD\V%XWWKHTXHVWLRQLVQHYHU³LI´SRZHUZLOOFRPHEDFN themselves, as opposed to being effective bridges to a RQEXW³ZKHQ´7KHSUREOHPZLWKthe energy paradigm new future. LVQ¶WWKDWLWGRHVQ¶WGRZKDWLW¶VPHDQWWRGR5DWKHULW¶V Hydro-fracking as a mining technique has made that it does so in a manner that negatively impacts so available significant quantities of natural gas, which is many other aspects of American life. Americans have more difficult for New Energy Paradigm advocates to simply grown accustomed to making these dismiss as a viable way to perpetuate the old energy compromises. paradigm, particularly because at current prices (near A few decades ago there was a commercial that $1/gallon equivalent) it is substantially less expensive illuminates an American attitude. If memory serves (and than gasoline. In fact, on April 12, 2012, natural gas fell it better, because Google was no help), it was for below $2.00 per 1000 cubic feet, its lowest level since 91 Maxwell House coffee. An elderly woman in the kitchen; January 28, 2002. It also burns cleaner so it is likely to

Energy and the Republican Party 38 receive liberal support to accelerate its acceptance into ³H[WUHPH RLO´93 This is oil that comes from deep-water the American market place. And, conveniently, it works drilling, shale oil, tight oil and oil sands. All of these within the current transportation fuel infrastructure. technologies have been around for years. However, they Hydro-fracking is not without its problems and are expensive, and with oil prices historically in the $20 opponents, though; the most concerning is the potential per barrel range, it was not economically viable to for wastewater to contaminate local wells and aquifers. produce this oil. With the cost of oil holding at $70 to Yet, technology may soon invalidate this argument, too. $110 per barrel it now becomes economical to go after The EnvironmentalLeader.com recently reported, the oil buried deep in these environments. However, ³(FRORJL[ (QYLURQPHQWDO 6\VWHPV DQ $WODQWD-based the high cost to produce this oil (production costs alone wastewater treatment company specializing in the oil range from $50 per barrel for oil trapped in shale and gas industry, has designed a mobile integrated formations to over $100 per barrel for some offshore, treatment system for hydraulic fracturing that allows the deepwater wells) means that the price of oil cannot drop re-use of water for future GULOOLQJ´92 back to the $20-$30 barrel range that yielded $2.00 per Yet all this new domestic supply is not likely to have JDOORQJDV2LOFRPSDQLHVVLPSO\FDQ¶WFKDUJHFXVWRPHUV the positive economic effects one might expect. With less than their cost of production. And if OPEC were to global oil prices now hovering around $100 per barrel, it engage in pricing practices that dropped the global price is cost effective to pursue oil and gas resources that of oil, it would no longer be economically feasible to have traditionally been too expensive to pursue. Shale continue to produce this extreme oil at all. oil here in the U.S. is now plentiful. Oil from tar sands in Mario Loyola is a senior analyst at the Armstrong Canada is cost effective as long as oil prices stay high Center for Energy and the Environment. Contrary to the enough to justify the expense of producing it. Together, above, he voices a strong opinion that domestic supply the increased availability of domestic resources mitigates can bring about a reduction in gas prices, in his article VRPH RI WKH DUJXPHQWV DJDLQVW RLO¶V SODFH LQ WKH ³Past the Pump: Exploiting our oil reserves would American Energy Paradigm²namely foreign policy and transform our economy´ LQ WKH $SULO   LVVXH RI national security concerns. National Review. While his conclusions about domestic Yet this domestic petroleum abundance will simply supply being a force for lower gas prices is disputed become a part of the global oil system and, thus, here, his synopsis of the benefits of lower gas prices vulnerable to the pricing considerations that define the WKHPVHOYHV DUH QRW ³&KHDS HQHUJ\«ZRXOG PDNH 86 global petroleum market, mitigating the effects domestic manufacturing much more competitive abroad, lowering supplies can and will have on gas prices and the unemployment, increasing income, and reducing the attendant economic effects. account deficit. It is an achievable goal and we should In fact, the vagaries of the global energy market will spare no effort to achieve it. Displacing two million dictate that fuel prices remain high even with an barrels per day of imports would wipe out perhaps a increase in domestic supply, contrary to everything you fourth of U.S. current-account deficit, which would learned in your Econ 101 class. The primary source of dramatically strengthen economic fundamentals and new domestic supply is what Time magazine dubbed lead to a significant increase in national income. That

Energy and the Republican Party 39 would increase tax revenue, and reduce the deficit economic opportunities that would be welcome under without a tax raise. That in turn would allow investments the best of circumstances, but which, under the current to come into balance with savings, while increased cloud of economic troubles, are now ever more income and reduced unemployment would make it welcome. Republicans will not be quick to alienate possible to cut government spending without major traditionally supportive constituencies. adverse short-WHUP HIIHFWV 7KH FRXQWU\¶V ZKROH Many of the residents of the regions producing new economic outlook would improve, and the impact on domestic oil and gas supplies are thriving as a result of global energy prices could even spur a worldwide increased economic activity, and see their livelihood and recovery.´94 quality of life tied to perpetuating the current model. This report freely acknowledges that national change Though many of these Americans are also directly will be a process not an event. Toward that end, many affected by the negative consequences of our energy bridges will be required to reach the desired destination. paradigm, they view their ability to earn an income as The temptation to view a new abundance of domestic, their primary concern (and who can blame them?). clean fuel as the destination itself, rather than a useful Politicians who advocate for changing the system will be bridge to a completely different future, may yet prove to perceived as threats to the future of their districts. be the strongest instrument of inertia.

C hange is Expensive J obs Even without the occupational ties to the energy But there are others. A great many Americans are industry, many Americans will view change as invested in the current American Energy Paradigm, from necessitating financial expenditures to move from one gas station owners to multinational corporations, and paradigm to another. Change is difficult under the best from coal-producing communities to the Department of of circumstances, but it is made more difficult when Defense. These are powerful interests and they have SHRSOHWKLQNLW¶VJRLQJWRFRPHDWWKHLUH[SHQVHHybrid important concerns that should not be casually DQG HOHFWULF FDUV DUH DYDLODEOH EXW WKH\¶UH H[SHQVLYH GLVPLVVHG &KDQJHV WR $PHULFD¶V (QHUJ\ 3DUDGLJP ZLOO Home improvements to make a house more energy EH SHUFHLYHG WR QHJDWLYHO\ DIIHFW PDQ\ SHRSOH¶V efficient, or adding solar panels, require capital outlays. immediate lives and livelihood. Infrastructure changes in roads, communities and The livelihood issue begins and ends with jobs. electrical transmission lines will be the purview of Twelve of the top fifteen oil-producing states in the U.S. governments. In the recessionary climate in which we voted for Republican candidate John McCain in the 2008 find ourselves, there is little financial flexibility for presidential election. And five of the top six coal- individual initiative creating a sense of impotence. producing states (accounting for 75% of U.S. coal production) voted similarly. Additionally, hydro- fracturing technology has increased oil and gas production significantly in many states, creating jobs and

Energy and the Republican Party 40

having the president or Congress pick winners and losers in the energy sector is neither practical nor hange Takes Time C principled. Another source of inertia is the multi-generational nature of creating a New American Energy Paradigm. We can agree that having less oil imported from the Middle East would People, especially politicians, are hard-pressed to improve America's national security commit to endeavors they know they will not see interests. But we also agree with the concluded. One can only imagine that the first rock chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, who said, "Our cutters assigned to the Egyptian Pyramids were difficult national debt is our biggest national to motivate given that they would never see the fruits of security threat." In 2009 alone, the their labors. If President Kennedy had suggested the government gave more than $18 U.S. put a man on the moon in 75 years, NASA might billion in handouts to a wide variety of energy sources, including wind, have perished faster than warm bananas. hydrogen, natural gas, oil and ethanol. With the federal debt estimated to hit $25 trillion by 2021, the United States must get its ubsidies S financial house in order. It cannot $PHULFD¶V H[WHQGHG UHFHVVLRQ FRPELQHG ZLWK continue throwing billions of taxpayer EORDWHG IHGHUDO EXGJHWV DQG (XURSH¶V HFRQRPLF dollars away on federal energy subsidies. meltdown, is also contributing to a shortsighted

DSSURDFKWR$PHULFD¶VHQHrgy situation. Phasing out market-distorting energy Republican Congressman Mike Pompeo was elected subsidies (and preventing the expansion or creation of new ones LQWRUHSUHVHQW.DQVDV¶Vth Congressional District for the "latest, greatest" technology) and immediately took a place on the Energy and must be part of the strategy. Commerce committee. He has been a vocal opponent of Subsidies such as fuel tax credits for renewable energy initiatives based on the fact that they ethanol, hydrogen and natural gas are set to expire soon. There is no are the beneficiaries of significant federal subsidies. In a reason to pile on our debt while September 2011 article for the Washington Examiner, simultaneously distorting the market Pompeo (with Jeff Flake ±R-AZ) writes: for fuel products. It is far better to allow market competition to

determine which alternative energy Unfortunately, some conservatives -- sources will succeed.95 trying to promote national security -- fall into the same trap of arguing for 3RPSHR¶V DUWLFOH highlights some established and alternative energy subsidies. Interests ranging from solar to wind, legitimate Republican values in action²minimal from propane to biodiesel, from government involvement, fiscal responsibility, and an natural gas to algae, purport to emphasis on the efficacy of markets. Yet Pompeo fails to provide the key to America's energy and national security needs, but acknowledge that military protection for oil production,

Energy and the Republican Party 41 and lines-of-transportation, amounts to a free subsidy to climate change, an issue they believe Al Gore invented the industry. He fails to acknowledge that 30 years of for political expediency. The conclusions from this enforcing the Carter Doctrine effectively means the VXSSRVLWLRQ KDYH VXSSRUWHG SHUSHWXDWLQJ $PHULFD¶V federal government has already picked the winner. And Energy Paradigm, belittling the importance of renewable he fails to acknowledge the critical role energy plays in SRZHU VRXUFHV DQG DGYRFDWLQJ IRU D ³GULOO EDE\ GULOO´ harming the U.S. economy, as a result price volatility strategy of increasing domestic supply of oil in order to and increasing our trade deficit, as well as by eroding a) avoid increased government regulation; b) promote family finances. corporate interests; and c) effectively say to Americans 3RPSHR¶VSRVLWLRQLVHDVLHUWRXQGHUVWDQGZKHQ\RX WKDWLI³GULOOEDE\GULOO´LVSXUVXHGLWZLOOEHGRQHVRDVD know that he is the former President of Sentry tacit repudiation of climate change. All of these International, a global business that manufactures, positions have created a mindset in many Republicans distributes and sells equipment used in oilfield and that energy and climate are one and the same. Talk LQGXVWULDODSSOLFDWLRQV:KLOHVRPHDVSHFWVRI3RPSHR¶V show hosts have staked their credibility on denying observations are conservatively inspired, and to be climate science and eschewing its remediations, and lauded, his presentation of the discussion as a zero-sum their listeners are now invested as supporters of the game is inaccurate. Creating a New American Energy same mentality. Both hosts and audiences are ´,I,KDGDVNHGWKHSHRSOHZKDWWKH\ZDQWHG, WKH\ZRXOGKDYHVDLGIDVWHUKRUVHVµ Henry Ford Paradigm can be done by eliminating all subsidies, intrinsically committed to the Democrats being wrong. contributing to U.S. energy independence, and $V VXFK DGYRFDWLQJ IRU FKDQJHV WR $PHULFD¶V (QHUJ\ promoting the efficacy of markets. Paradigm is likely to be viewed as at least tacit validation Yet his attitude is reflective of current thinking, which of Democratic initiatives, and result in immediate and is to simply find ways to improve the ancient paradigm² visceral opposition in Republican circles. buy faster horses²rather than create Power v 2.0 as a Talk show hosts on TV and radio make their living new and improved version attendant to American with their opinions. They have the luxury of being interests, and addressing lessons learned in the creation FRQVLVWHQW LQ WKHLU PHVVDJLQJ EHFDXVH WKH\¶UH of the first American Energy Paradigm. accountable only to their own integrity and consistency. This animosity surrounding the climate change They are never responsible for building consensus. Since discussion creates two more potential sources of inertia: so many of these pundits are Republican voices, the Democrats and the media. particularly on the radio, they have been a steady tide of bombast against climate science and, thus, in promoting M edia the status quo since such perpetuation validates the In vilifying the Democrats for the last quarter scientific buffoonery of global warming. century, TV and radio hosts have often taken aim at

Energy and the Republican Party 42

While a New American Energy Paradigm might be indicative of the broad communication issues when completely consistent from a conservative perspective, discussing stewardship theology with evangelicals. the media might well resist its advocacy for fear that Many books have been written, and more will be, on their audiences will believe them to now be supporting PDQDJLQJFKDQJH7KHFRQFOXVLRQLVSHRSOHGRQ¶WOLNHLW WKH'HPRFUDW¶VDJHQGD particularly when it challenges long-held assumptions and beliefs, and is thought to come at their expense. &KDQJLQJRQH¶VPLQGLVVHOGRPDQHYHQW, but rather is a D emocrats process unfolding over time. Even the most open- Republican support for a new energy paradigm, minded person is likely to encounter resistance within even absent any acknowledgement of the veracity of himself. climate change, will no doubt have positive effects on atmospheric carbon levels. Yet, the Democrats may very conclusion well oppose Republican leadership and messaging, in order to ensure that the issue of climate change is not The current Republican approach to energy is to invalidated. In the past, attacks on climate science have attack climate science, simultaneously advocating created an atmosphere where climate change groups perpetuation of the current American Energy Paradigm have felt compelled to evangelize for the cause as a while expanding the supply of American petroleum form of scientific apologetics, rather than simply to resources through increased drilling for gas and oil. advocate for the implementation of beneficial policies, Furthermore, the ubiquity of the national electrical grid regardless of the motivation from which they stem. and its relative technological soundness, encourages Climate change advocates must become comfortable minor tweaks rather than systemic changes. America, in with political pragmatism and eschew evangelism as a general, and Republicans in particular, are managing the necessary outcome. past rather than creating the future, while accepting a Lastly, as in any debate there is room for reasonable paradigm that exists in contrast with our espoused people to disagree, and, so, it should not be presumed values. that the biblical case for stewardship will receive Roughly a third of America is unmoved by climate universal acceptance. Disparity of biblical interpretation change and is content to perpetuate a problematic leaves room for some people of faith to draw different paradigm despite the fact that virtually all Americans are FRQFOXVLRQV )RU H[DPSOH SUHYLRXVO\ 0DUWLQ 3DOPHU¶V negatively impacted by the very existence of that DVVHUWLRQ WKDW WKH *UHHN ZRUG ³NRVPRV´ WUDQVODWHG LQ paradigm. -RKQ  DV ³WKH ZRUOG,´ PHDQW ³WKH QDWXUDO ZRUOG´ Advocates for clean energy are everywhere today² was noted. 3DOPHU¶V LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH JUHHN on the Left and the Right. Yet the only vision being ³NRVPRV´ LV PRVW OLNHO\ WH[WXDOO\ DQG FRQWH[WXDOO\ presented to America at large comes from the political inaccurate. Kosmos more likely refers to the people of Left and is based in the perceived truth of global climate the earth. But his willingness to see what he wants is FKDQJH 7KH\ KDYH D YLVLRQ IRU D ³FOHDQ HQHUJ\´ economy or some derivative thereof. But that vision is

Energy and the Republican Party 43 not compelling to conservatives and Republicans who and acted on by members at all levels of the 100 are enticed by neither the claims of global climate organization.´ change nor the policy measures proposed by liberals in How, then, to create a compelling, exciting and pursuit of carbon mitigation. LQVSLULQJYLVLRQIRU$PHULFD¶VIXWXUH? First, there must be With carbon mitigation as the foundation of the an exciting vision for a New American Energy Paradigm /HIW¶V vision, it is no wonder that the words chosen to that meets the needs of American citizens, and this is communicate that vision have evolved as they have: best accomplished by inventing a New American Energy ³JUHHQ´ ³FOHDQ´ ³VXVWDLQDEOH´ ³FDUERQ-IUHH´ Paradigm consistent with core conservative values. The ³UHQHZDEOH´ ³HQYLURQPHQWDO´ ³FOLPDWH FKDQJH´ DQG reasons for proposing changes to a system that, ³JOREDO waUPLQJ´  

authentically conservative governance. x ³$ YLVLRQ helps you see the importance of The American stories with energy plots and sub- getting where you want to go and understand why some paths there are better suited to some plots, being written today, are the stories around which organizations than others.´ 97 the GOP can extend its brand, and promote the core x ³« a vision helps contextualize the purpose of values of the Party that are so often reflected in the everything that gets done in an organization. homes of all Americans: support for the military, The vision inspires, motivates and creates a sense of purpose that organizational members stewardship, the economy, jobs, American 98 FDQEX\LQWR´ exceptionalism, foreign policy, the global war on terror, x ³$ YLVLRQ DUWLFXODWHV ZKHUH WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ LV liberty, business profitability, hunting and land headed and what it is trying to accomplish. A vision projects an exciting future and is conservation. 99 realistic.´ These values are at the center of the conservative x ³)RUDYLVLRQWRVHUYHLWVIXQFWLRQDQGJXLGHWKH mindset. Yet conservatives diminish the advancement of organization surely forward, it must be believed their cherished ideas by allowing the discussion and

Energy and the Republican Party 44 treatment of a symptom (climate change) to interfere in climate change, but because a New American Energy with addressing the underlying cause of the malady²the Paradigm supports everything that is good for America. current American Energy Paradigm. Ultimately, a New American Energy Paradigm is the It is time for all Americans to rethink their position most patriotic pursuit any citizen can support. RQ$PHULFD¶VEnergy Paradigm. Not because of a belief

Energy and the Republican Party 45 appendix i The report includes the full range of benefits from local, diverse and distributed power. Pondering the Future ³7KHVH LQFOXGH LPSURYHG HIILFLHQF\ RI the distribution system, reduced strain When I was a talk radio host, one of my favorite on the grid during peak demand topics was to pose the following scenario and question. period, greater reliability, When my grandparents were born in the late 1800s, the environmental and land-use benefits, day-to-day life was virtually unchanged from 2000 years possible job creation, the harnessing of untapped energy resources, and ago: people burned candles for light, they burned wood other region-specific benefits. They to cook and heat their homes, and they rode horses for also include the security value of DPS, transportation. You could very well drop one of the both as a means of decreasing the vulnerability of the civilian grid to twelve apostles into this era, and he would have felt GLVUXSWLRQ DQG DWWDFN´ %URRNLQJV fairly at ease. Yet, just 68 years later, we put a man on page X). the moon. If you had suggested to my grandfather that 7KH UHSRUW FRQWLQXHV ³$GYRFDtes of DPS see them as a means of in just 68 years we would put a man on the moon, he harnessing local sources of generation PLJKWZHOOKDYHUHVSRQGHG³+RZDUH\RXJRLQJWREXLOG to enable commercial, residential and DODGGHUWKDWORQJ"´1RQHRIWKHWHFKQRORJ\H[LVWHGWKDW industrial electricity consumers to bypass the centralized system of would one day make such a flight of fancy a reality. So, generation and dispatch and, in many what would I have to suggest to you will happen in 68 cases to meet their own electricity years²by 2080²that would make you just as needs. They also highlight the ability incredulous? of many distributed technologies to increase the efficiency of power The discussion was always interesting, but it was delivery through avoided transmission hard to get away from simply improving on technologies and distribution (T&D) losses, reduced that already exist and envisioning their use in a new capital expenditures on T&D, the conversion of waste heat and energy environment. to useful power and the ability to The current American Energy Paradigm took 100 harness distributed renewable years to create. So it seems reasonable to assume that resources through systems such as rooftop solar installations. Others reinventing it may take fifty to one-hundred years or so stress their potential to decrease to make a complete transition. So as we envision what electricity- system vulnerability the future might look like, GRQ¶WWKLQNDERXWWLPHIUDPHV through the diversification of the just imagine how a new energy paradigm might look. power supply portfolio and the ³LVODQGLQJ´ RI JHQHUDWLRQ DQG If I were to advocate for any specific energy future, distribution. They also see the it would be this: local, diverse and distributed power potential for DPS technologies to be generation. In some circles these are called Distributed adopted by the military to improve the operating efficiency of bases and Power Systems (DPS). The Brookings Institute issued a expeditionary missions. The most report in October, 2011, titled ³$VVHVVLQJ WKH 5ROH RI ardent supporters of DPS see them as 'LVWULEXWHG 3RZHU 6\VWHPV LQ WKH 86 3RZHU 6HFWRU´ holding the potential to revolutionize the U.S. power sector through the

Energy and the Republican Party 46

replacement of the existing power fairly well established history of disappearing every system with new local markets for night. However, Nocera has discovered how to electricity based on networks of small- inexpensively and safely store unused solar power scale generation and informed FRQVXPSWLRQ´103 generated during the day for use while the other side of the planet bellys up to the bar. Each of these benefits is consistent with core Solar panels are fitted to a house or building. The conservative values, and, thus, local, diverse and electricity generated powers the building all day. Unused distributed power systems emerge as at least possible power is directed to a fuel cell where it splits water into vision of the future. its components, hydrogen and oxygen. This is done Energy as an Appliance: Every Building a Power cheaply and easily by using a cobalt-based catalyst. Plant Cobalt is an inexpensive and plentiful element. The Imagine if there were no such things as a household hydrogen and oxygen are stored separately in a fuel cell. oven or a home refrigerator. How would that affect your At night, the fuel cell recombines the two elements GDLO\IRRGSUHSDUDWLRQ",QVKRUW\RX¶GEHIRUFHGWRHDW releasing electricity to power the house. RXWDOOWKHWLPH

Energy and the Republican Party 47 is part of the home. This effectively amortizes the utility megawatt hour. Not a megawatt PER hour. That would bill over the life of the mortgage, locking in the charge be 1 megawatt divided by 60 minutes (MW/h). Rather is to create energy. Additionally, because the infrastructure one megawatt, continuously and instantaneously, FOR is part of the house and home mortgages are tax AN hour (MWh). A typical U.S. home needs about two GHGXFWLEOH\RX¶YHHVVHQWLDOO\PDGH\RXUXWLOLW\ELOODWD[ kilowatt hours of power. So, a 1MWh Power Tube can asset. supply 500 homes with their needed 2 kwh of power. For worst case scenarios, homes can be fitted with a Imagine now that communities, military bases and EDFNXSSURSDQHJHQHUDWRULQFDVHWKHVXQGRHVQ¶WVKLQH business parks are built around Power Tube stations. for extended periods or if the solar panels fail. The community produces its own power and power is Ultimately, the power generation simply becomes connected only to community users. Again, automobile another household appliance like an air conditioner or a power is provided in the same way as above. refrigerator. For the conservative, these visions of the future un- tether our government from needing to import oil. Our Community Generation troops are no longer deployed to faraway places to Businesses with huge power needs and some secure oil. Foreign policy makers are free to engage communities may yet need more power or additional other countries without the looming specter of backup power. Doyle Brewington with TST Power Tube petroleum repercussions. Our economy becomes an PD\ KDYH WKH DQVZHU KHUH %UHZLQJWRQ¶V FRPSDQ\ innovative manufacturing juggernaut turning out solar PDNHV WKH 3RZHU 7XEH  +HUH¶V KRZ LW ZRUNV $ GHHS panels, Power Tubes and fuel cells for export. Our land hole is drilled into the ground, about six inches in is conserved for future use, unburdened from diameter, until the hole reaches a point where the earth exploration and exploitation. Home owners are released is about 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The hole is filled with a from crippling and unpredictable utility and fuel bills FHUDPLF³KHDWULVHU´WKDWHIILFLHQWO\FRQGXFWVKHDWWRWKH freeing up money for personal investing, college, and surface. In the top of the hole is placed a small turbine discretionary spending. We can be proud of our engine. The turbine is filled with an stewardship of our gifts from above for future isopentane/isobutene fluid that vaporizes at low generations. Middle Eastern countries will lose their temperatures. The Power Tube vaporizes the liquid economic ability to support terrorism until they can using the heat delivered from below. This heated, reinvent their economies. The U.S. reduces its expanding vapor drives the turbine to generate vulnerability to terrorist attack, solar weather and other electricity. The Power Tube is a closed loop system so grid outages. Military bases operate as energy islands. the vapor is captured and condensed back into a liquid, The power we create on our property is created for us where the process repeats itself. and used by us. Prudence, justice, dignity and restraints The Power Tube can be sized from one to ten on power are all respected. PHJDZDWWV FRQWLQXRXVO\  /HW¶V DVVXPH ZH KDYH D Space Based Solar smaller Power Tube--one megawatt. If it makes this ,I \RX¶G UHDOO\ OLNH WR H[SDQG \RXU KRUL]RQ WKRXJK amount of power for one hour, it has made one thLV LPDJH YLRODWHV ³UHVWUDLQWV RQ SRZHU´  LPDJLQH D

Energy and the Republican Party 48 world in which solar power is gathered in space and Oil will probably never disappear, even in the longer beamed to the earth using microwaves to substations WHUP1RPDWWHUKRZELJ,GUHDP,VLPSO\FDQ¶WLPDJLQH for distribution. However, the electricity is now wireless how to power a modern military on anything other than (Tesla predicted this years ago and it is technically fossil fuels. They have high energy content, they are feasible today but with very low efficiencies), and relatively safe and they are mobile. I MXVW GRQ¶W NQRZ transmitted out in the same way that radio waves or the how you fly an F35 using something other than liquid internet are. Electricity is just a ubiquitous airborne fuels, though the U.S. Air Force and the Navy have both quantity and our homes, cars and electronics simply flown aircraft using biodiesel. However, if oil loses its ³FRQQHFW´WRWKHHOHFWULFLWy the same way our computers significance in the domestic economy, the U.S. has all automatically connect to the internet. the oil it needs. We are still the third largest oil- :H FDQQRW ³+DUU\ 3RWWHU´ RXUVHOYHV LQWR WKLV ZRUOG producing nation in the world. Many bridges will be required to get us to this future: When our first design criterion is to create a New natural gas, wind, nuclear, efficiency, and more American Energy Paradigm that is consistent with domestic drilling. Those bridges will not only buy time conservative values, a future of unbridled American for technology to catch up, but will ease the transition supremacy is easy to see. In fact, advocating for a for individuals and communities whose livelihoods are conservatively based New American Energy Paradigm is currently linked to the existing paradigm. These are the most patriotic issue of our time. important considerations.

Energy and the Republican Party 49

appendix ii

Nor was it the case that each of them was the Compromise and the American Political System caretaker of 1/55th of a puzzle if only the gatekeepers This is another section that could fill a small library. and the key masters could come together. However, in the climate of extreme partisan politics in Certainly, the individual Founders were great in ways which we find ourselves, I wanted to make one final that volumes of books have covered. Though some of observation. There is historical precedence for the most renowned thinkers were absent. Jefferson was compromise in American politics that ought to be of in France; Adams in London. great relevance. The Founding Fathers came together in No, the genius of the Founding Fathers was their the summer of 1787 to draft a new constitution. These collective willingness to compromise. They did not let great men were chosen to promote their ideas, and the ³JUHDW´EHWKHHQHP\RI³JRRG´7KH\GLGQRWWULIOHRYHU interests of their constituents, but they ultimately attempts to create something perfect. Though several subjected themselves to the greater good represented hoped, and voiced their belief, that they were by the consensus of the group. They had a common undertaking something of eternal significance, LW¶VVDIH goal of creating a new government, and while many to say that by the time they left Philadelphia in spoke loud and long, most went home having September, they were hardly convinced they had compromised on many issues that were important to accomplished that goal. Their first order of business them. after establishing the form of the government was to It is ironic that politicians speak today so highly of address how to change the form of the government, if the great work done by the Founding Fathers, as if each E\ FKDQFH WKH\¶G PDGH D PHVV RI LW $UWLFOH , WKH of the 55 of them was possessed of some divinely Legislature. Article II: the Executive. Article III: the inspired insight in which they all miraculously arrived in Supreme Court. Article IV: how the states relate to the Philadelphia in one accord, which is not to say they federal government. Article V: Amendments.) Instead, arrived in a Honda. they did what they could, holding fast to the highest It is not as if they showed up in Philadelphia and values, and setting aside smaller interests. And from this discovered a surprising unity while discussing the process of personal submission to the greater good, DJHQGD ³<28 ZDQW D EL-cameral legislature? So do I. each of them emerged with their individual historical With the Senate having equal representation and the significance enhanced a hundred-fold. +RXVHKDYLQJSURSRUWLRQDOUHSUHVHQWDWLRQ"7KDW¶VH[DFWO\ TodD\¶V SROLWLFLDQV ZRXOG GR ZHOO WR UHIOHFW RQ WKH what I was thinking. Checks and baODQFHV" ,¶P IRU true genius of the Founding Fathers. Their most those, too. Slavery? I agree²OHW¶VOHDYHWKDWIRUanother instructive legacy was not the product, but rather the day2ND\:H¶UHDOOLQDJUHHPHQW&KHHVH-steaks and process²collectively creating greatness through EHHUDWWKH/LEHUW\SRRO´ compromise and a commitment to a shared vision.

Energy and the Republican Party 50

end notes

1 & 2. Phillips, K. (2007). American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century, Penguin Group: Kindle Edition. Page 4. 3. Kauffman, B. (2008). $LQ·W0\$PHULFD, New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company. Page 233. 4 & 5. Gerson, M., (2007). +HURLF&RQVHUYDWLVP:K\5HSXEOLFDQV1HHGWR(PEUDFH$PHULFD·V,GHDOV, New York, NY: Harper Collins. Page 267. 6. Roosevelt, T. (January 20, 1915). The Conservation of Wildlife, Outlook. Recovered on December 9, 2012 from http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/treditorials.html 7. Goldwater, B. (1970). The Conscience of a Majority, Garden Bay, BC, Canada: MW Books. 8. Kirk, R., (1993). Ten Conservative Principles, Adapted from The Politics of Prudence, recovered Dec 5, 2011, from http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/detail/ten-conservative-principles/ 9. Cupp, S.E. and Joshpe, B. (2008). :K\The New York Times. Recovered on December 29, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/world/middleeast/with-30-billion-arms-deal-united-states-bolsters-ties-to-saudi-arabia.html 30. Joseph Sousa Jamba, interview Feb 26, 2011. 31. 6HFXULQJ$PHULFD·V)XWXUHEnergy, (2008). A National Strategy for Energy Security, Recovered December 15, 2011, from http://www.secureenergy.org/sites/default/files/936_A_National_Strategy_for_Energy_Security.pdf 32 & 33. Kaplan, R. (2012, February). Why John J. Mearsheimer is Right, The Atlantic, pages 80-89. 34. Phillips, K. (2007). American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century, Penguin Group: Kindle Edition.

35 & 36. Klare, M. and Volman, D. (May, 2006) 7KH$IULFDQ´2LO5XVKµDQG$PHULFDQ1DWLRQDO6HFXULW\ Third World Quarterly, Volume 27, Issue 4. Recovered on Dec 9, 2011 from http://concernedafricascholars.org/african-security-research-project/?p=13 37. The White House, (January 31, 2006) President Delivers State of the Union Address. Recovered on November 18, 2011 from http://georgewbush- whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060131-10.html 38. Juhasz, A. (July 3, 2008). Will the Next War for Oil Be in Africa? San Francisco Bay View, News Report, Recovered Dec 2009, from http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=8854137551cf553b8bc6bab08cb09abf 39. Ploch, L. (2011). Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa, The Congressional Research Service. Recovered on November 18, 2011 from http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34003_20110322.pdf 40. Energy Information Administration (2010). Annual Energy Report 2010, Recovered on Nov 29, 2010, from http://www.eia.doe.gov/aer/txt/ptb0511.html &HQWHUIRU1DYDO$QDO\VLV  (QVXULQJ$PHULFD·V)UHHGRPRI0RYHPHQW&1$$OH[DQGULD9$ 5RVHQWKDO(-XQH)DOOLQJ%HKLQGLQWKH%XVLQHVVRI¶*UHHQ·7KH1HZ

Energy and the Republican Party 51

47. Energy Information Administration (2010). Annual Energy Report 2010, Recovered on Nov 29, 2010, from http://www.eia.doe.gov/aer/txt/ptb0511.html 48. Kirk, R., (1993). Ten Conservative Principles, Adapted from The Politics of Prudence, recovered Dec 5, 2011, from http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/detail/ten-conservative-principles/ 49 50. Tverberg, G. (2011). High Oil Prices and Recession, OilPrice.com, Recovered December 15, 2011 from http://oilprice.com/Energy/Oil-Prices/High-Oil-Prices-and-Recessions.html 515RVHQWKDO(-XQH)DOOLQJ%HKLQGLQWKH%XVLQHVVRI¶*UHHQ·7KH1HZ

Energy and the Republican Party 52

91. Associated Press, April 12, 2012. Recovered on April 12, 2012 from http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/04/12/natural-gas-below-2-for-first-time-since-2002/ 92. EnvironmentalLeader.com (Feb 3, 20120). Ecologix Launches Fracking Water Treatment System. Recovered on February 3, 2012 from http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/03/ecologix-launches- fracking-water-treatment-system/ 93. Walsh, B. April 9, 2012. The Future of Oil. Time Magazine. Pages 28-35. /R\ROD0 $SULO ´3DVWWKH3XPS([SORLWLQJRXURLOUHVHUYHVZRXOGWUDQVIRUPRXUHFRQRP\µNational Review, pages 22-25. 95. Pompeo, M. and Flake, J.. Sept 15, 2012. Free Market (QHUJ\6ROXWLRQV'RQ·W-HRSDUGL]H1DWLRQDO6HFXULW\. The Washington Examiner. Recovered on April 14, 2012 From http://washingtonexaminer.com/2011/09/free-market-energy-solutions-dont-jeopardize-national-security/118252. 97. Deetz, S., Tracy, S., and Simpson, J. (2002). Leading Organizations Through Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, page 51 98. Deetz, S., Tracy, S., and Simpson, J. (2002). Leading Organizations Through Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, page 51 99 & 100, Deetz, S., Tracy, S., and Simpson, J. (2002). Leading Organizations Through Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, page 54. 103. Brookings Institution (2011). Assessing the Role of Distributed Power Systems in the U.S. Power Sector. Recovered on December 18, 2011 from http://www.recycled-energy.com/images/uploads/Brookings_Hoover_DPS_study.pdf

Energy and the Republican Party 53

about the author

Drexel Kleber is the President of The Drexel Group, Ltd. A 1988 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mr. Kleber subsequently flew KC-10 air-refueling aircraft in Gulf War I. Afterwards, he flew the Boeing 737 at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he also began taking seminary classes through Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. His studies were cut short when United Airlines came calling after fourteen years of active duty military service. After flying and instructing for United Airlines for six years, and in the wake of 9/11, Mr. Kleber left United and returned to San Antonio with his family of five children to pursue more entrepreneurial endeavors. This experience highlighted the difficulties facing small business owners and budding entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, he also pursued stand-up comedy which subsequently opened the door to hosting a conservative talk radio program, Kicking the Anthill with Drexel Kleber, on AM 930, KLUP. It was here, on conservative talk radio, that Mr. Kleber began to notice the decidedly unconservative nature of the American Energy Paradigm and its far reaching affects into the lives of everyday Americans. In the economic slowdown of 2008, the program lost its primary sponsor and Mr. Kleber took a job in Washington, D.C., with a former guest on the program, at the Office of the Secretary of Defense¶s Power Surety Task Force whose mission it was to ³help reduce the use and transportation of fossil fuel at DoD Forward Operating Bases.´ Mr. Kleber was a frequent public speaker on the importance of making energy a strategic consideration in order to make the military more lethal, more expeditionary and more mission capable. After two years at the Power Surety Task Force, Mr. Kleber returned to flying, this time in Afghanistan with Presidential Airways where he simultaneously completed his Master¶s Degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University.

Energy and the Republican Party 54