My Energy Plan

Energy security is the most important topic facing our country today. The price of gas has climbed to all time highs and there is no end in sight. We are spending $1 billion a day on oil imports, and much of this money props up anti-American regimes and Islamic terrorism. As Senator John McCain recently observed "Al Qaeda must revel in the irony America is effectively funding both sides of the war . . . the transfer of American wealth helps sustains the conditions on which terrorists prey."

Here at home, the cost of a tank of gas has doubled. Oklahomans pay an extra $1,500 a year just to drive their cars. Utility rates are also skyrocketing, projected to increase by 40%. This is the worst economic crisis in decades.

Here in Oklahoma, we can tackle this problem. While Oklahoma represents 1% of the nation’s population, we produce an outstanding 10% of the nation’s energy. We have the resources, the expertise and the willpower necessary to work towards a solution.


Biofuels

Biofuel is energy that can be harnessed from biological material, most commonly plants that harness solar energy thru photosynthesis. Scientists are researching technologies to convert the solar energy in plants into liquid fuels like ethanol and biocrude. Currently, 2/3rds of all gasoline sold in the United States contains about 10% ethanol, reducing the price of gasoline by about 10 cents per gallon. By 2012, US automakers will produce vehicles that can handle blends of up to 85 percent ethanol.

My record

We need alternative fuels. As state senator I supported the 2007 Oklahoma BioCenter Energy Act, a $40 million 4 year investment in biofuels research at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the Noble Foundation in Ardmore. Over the past two years, the Oklahoma Legislature, working with Governor Brad Henry, invested $14 million and attracted an additional $10 million in federal support.

The BioCenter will research the use of cellulosic feedstock to produce liquid biofuels, including ethanol and biocrude. The feedstock includes switchgrass, cornstalks (as opposed to corn), and paper pulp or wood chips, so these sources of energy will not lead to an increase in food prices. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that cellulosic-based ethanol has the potential to bring back $2 per-gallon gas once the vehicles become available.

Widespread use of cellulosic fuels provides other benefits for our nation and our state:

  • reduce our oil imports by 40%, which would cut our trade deficit in half;
  • reduce greenhouse emissions by 80% compared to only 12% for corn-based ethanol;
  • diversify and strengthen our state's economy with the creation of over 20,000 good paying jobs;
  • strengthen our farming sector, which will revitalize rural Oklahoma.

With a proud heritage in both the agriculture and energy industries, Oklahoma is well suited to lead a national effort to secure our country's future and to cut off the flow of petro-dollars to despotic regimes. And back at home, in our great state, Oklahomans will see lower fuel prices and a more affordable cost of living. The BioCenter should be one of the top priorities of the Oklahoma Legislature.


Wind power

Utility rates are skyrocketing. To overcome this problem, we must look to harness our wind as a source of power. Oklahoma’s potential to produce wind power is so great, that we could provide 9% of our nation’s energy needs just from our wind. Already, we rank 6th in nation in the production of wind power. The Panhandle alone has 8,400 Megawatts of wind generation capacity, enough to power nearly every residential home in Oklahoma. In 2006, OG&E won approval to build the Centennial Wind Farm, just north of Woodward, Oklahoma. Its 80 turbines, together with 34 turbines at the Oklahoma Wind Energy Center, will generate 170 megawatts of electricity. That would power 51,000 homes.

My record

While wind power is clean, renewable and inexpensive --about 3 cents per kilowatt hour -- it is expensive to build transmission lines to remote parts of our state. Connecting 1,500 megawatts of wind generation from the Panhandle to central Oklahoma would cost about $100 million. In 2008, I supported legislation to encourage transmission upgrades for wind-generated electricity. The legislation authorizes the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to include in a utility's rate a reimbursement for the "reasonable costs" for the transmission upgrade. I also supported legislation to create a task force to study further ways to harness Oklahoma's wind.

Harnessing our wind power is not only good for our state and country as a whole, but also specifically for the Tulsa area. With the construction of a new 500,000 square foot plant, DMI Industries has brought 400 jobs to the Tulsa area, with plans to hire more workers in the future, producing wind turbines. These are high quality, manufacturing jobs that will bring economic security to hundreds across the Tulsa area. There is a potential for thousands more similar manufacturing jobs right here in Tulsa, if we continue to invest and harness wind power.


Natural Gas

Every day when Oklahomans go to the pump, they continue to see rising gas prices. With turmoil continuing in the Middle East, there is no relief for gas prices in sight. We need alternative to rising fuel prices, and natural gas provides us with that answer. Natural gas costs less than $1 dollar per gallon, less than 1/4th the cost of gasoline in today's soaring crude oil market.

My record

In the 2008 legislature, I voted for a tax credit for the purchase of alternative vehicles using either natural gas or electricity. I also supported legislation that did not pass to convert our state vehicle fleet -- over 5,000 -- to natural gas and other alternative fuels. This would save taxpayer dollars by using Oklahoma-based fuels that are environmentally sound.

Oklahoma is one of the nation’s largest producers of natural gas, and eighty five percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States is produced domestically. By investing in natural gas technologies, we can provide a much cheaper alternative fuel for all Oklahomans. We will also combat our energy crisis with homegrown solutions instead of being dependent on those who do not value the American way of life. It is a win-win situation for our state as we strengthen our economic and national security at the same time.


Energy Savings Tips

CUT YOUR PRICE AT THE PUMP 5O CENTS A GALLON

Fuel Efficiency Tips

  1. Reduce your speed. On average, a 10 mph reduction in highway speed (from 75 to 65 mph) can save you 40 cents a gallon. A one hour trip will take only an additional 8 minutes.
    2. SAVINGS: 40 CENTS PER GALLON
  2. Check your tire pressure. 80% of cars have underinflated tires. You can save 11 cents per gallon with properly inflated tires.
    3. SAVINGS: 11 CENTS PER GALLON

TOTAL: 51 CENTS PER GALLON!

For more fuel efficiency tips, check out http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml