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Benjamin
Franklin once
said that death
and taxes are
the only things
certain. For a
time this
summer, it
appeared that
rising gas
prices could be
added to the
list. Although
autumn has
brought some
relief at the
pump, there can
be little doubt
that the energy
challenges
facing our
nation remain.
The United
States currently
imports around
60 percent of
its oil from
foreign
countries. With
demand for oil
increasing in
rising powers
such as China
and India,
refining
capacities are
at their limits
and global
supplies are
being squeezed.
Environmentally,
a new political
consensus has
emerged that
recognizes not
only the threat
posed by climate
change, but the
need to develop
alternative
sources of
fuel.
In this edition
of the
Forum, we
take a look at
those challenges
and this new
consensus. We
center our
coverage on the
comprehensive
plan introduced
by Tennessee
Senator Lamar
Alexander, who
believes America
should create a
21st
century
equivalent of
the Manhattan
Project in
pursuit of clean
energy.
This edition
also features a
“Memo to the
President-Elect”
on energy from
two scholars at
the Brookings
Institution, and
an insightful
essay by David
Kreutzer with
the Heritage
Foundation on
what people pay
for power
everyday.
In addition,
Michigan
Congressman Vern
Ehlers shares
his thoughts on
what he
considers the
most precious
resource of all,
while the
leaders of the
petroleum,
electrical, and
nuclear sectors
discuss what
their respective
industries are
doing to meet
the energy
challenges we
face.
With every
challenge comes
opportunity. At
a time when the
American people
are looking for
solutions to the
nation’s most
pressing
problems, energy
is an issue that
provides
Republicans with
an opportunity
to make a
difference in
people’s lives.
Solutions begin
with ideas, and
it is our hope
that, in this
edition, we have
highlighted some
that will merit
further debate
and discussion
down the road.
Louis M. Zickar
Editor
Ripon Forum
editor@riponsociety.org
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