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Sununu calls for more domestic oil exploration
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By GARRY RAYNO
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Thursday, Jun. 26, 2008
MANCHESTER – Blasting Democrats for blocking increased domestic oil production, U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, R-N.H., yesterday proposed an energy policy of conservation, alternative energy development and increased domestic exploration.
In a conference call with reporters, Sununu said high energy costs are hurting New Hampshire residents and the state's economy. "We need to take action, but we need to take a balanced approach," he said.
The focus needs to be on conservation, greater efficiency and the development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro generation, Sununu said. But without increasing the country's domestic oil production, there is no way to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil, he said.
His proposal echoes Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain's Lexington Project, also unveiled yesterday.
During his conference call, Sununu said, "Since Democrats took control of Congress, we've seen gasoline increase 80 percent. We need more than a lot of rhetoric and talking heads on TV."
He said Democrats and his November opponent, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, want to go back to the failed policies of former President Jimmy Carter in the '70s, by increasing the energy tax, suing the oil-producing nations and blocking any new domestic exploration for oil including drilling off shore and in Alaska.
"The laws of supply and demand cannot be repealed," Sununu said. "If you want to be realistic, if you want to be effective, if you want to show leadership on improving our energy independence, you have to allow additional domestic production."
While Sununu took aim at Democrats and Shaheen, she sought support for a petition asking Sununu to close what's called the "Enron loophole." She said Wall Street speculators trading oil without any government oversight have driven up the price of gasoline.
Shaheen said ending the loophole would decrease gas prices, but Sununu said it's difficult to quantify how much it increases prices.
He said anything that would improve transparency and trader disclosure would help, as would upping funding for the regulatory Commodity Futures Trading Commission to investigate and prosecute any price manipulation.
Shaheen's spokesman Kate Bedingfield said "John Sununu has made his priorities clear by voting to protect big oil and Wall Street traders over New Hampshire families."
She said he has done this while taking money from oil company political action committees and consistently voting against ending the trading loophole driving up oil prices.
"John Sununu is part of the problem," Bedingfield said.
In his conference call, Sununu touted his co-sponsorship of a bipartisan amendment to extend renewable energy tax credits. But he said, Democrats are blocking the proposal from a Senate vote.
"How high do prices have to go," Sununu said. "We need to stop overpromising and get down to work and pass some measures that will make a difference."
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YOUR COMMENTS
Senator Sununu??
Big oil companies are look for big profits?? How much stock do you own in these companies?? Are they filling your pockets? How many oil refineries did the oil companies buid in America?
With the excess profits these oil companies made, how much went into the pockets of the CEO" of these oil companies?
This Iraq war is for oil?? How many more billions is America going to spend in Iraq, killing our soldiers??? It's time to bring the soldiers home and help our people, not Iraq! The Best way to deal with Iraq is Food for Oil!!!
Now, Senator Sununu, What have you done along with Bush to bring down oil Prices???? I'll bet right after elections especially if the replubicans get in, the oil prices will rise very fast!!!!
We need alternate energy!! We need it today, which should have been started when The Bush administration began 8 years ago???? Senator Sununu, you are a yes man to Bush!! No You do not care about NH!!
- David Karam, Manchester
Drill NOW! Nuclear NOW! and build new refineries now! Thank you Senator Sununu for your clarity on the issue. It should be noted that a couple years ago three legislators proposed the state look at construction of a refinery on the former Pease Air Base. Rep. Pete Goyette and now former Rep. John Gibson were stopped cold by then former Speaker Doug Scamman. New refineries have to be part of any comprehensive policy that includes opening Alaska and off shore for drilling
- Dean Widner, Merrimack, NH
Who is Big Oil? Is it retirement/investment funds? Is it Hugo Chavez? Is it other countries? How many oil companies are owned by one greedy
person (other than Citgo)? What oil company does Bush own? What percentage of "big oil" is actually privately owned?
What about Perot? is he Big Oil too? What does he own?
Why has our Democrat controlled congress allowed $4.00 a gallon gas?
What have they done to bring the price of oil down?
- Zizzy, Manchester
On Energy, Where the heck have Sununu and Bush been for the last 6 years? With leadership like this ilk, we will never get to have an intelligent Energy Policy. We Sununu we will just let Big Oil get richer. Why hasn't Big Oil been drilling for the last 9 years on the currently leased areas that have been ignored. Why, because those reserves will get progressively more valuable with a delay in drilling. That same logic on the Part of Big Oil will not change with anything that Sununu and Bush propose. As a business man, i would do the same thing as Big Oil is doing, not drill here till the price is at $50.00 a gallon for gas. Neither would Bush or Sununu. They are Big Oil after all!
- J, Manchester
I would say that Shaheen, as a mouth piece for moveon.org, and her spokesperson Kate Bedingfield are the problem.
We should have been doing drilling ten years ago. Shaheen it is the laws of Supply and Demand. She needs to get a clue and stop the Moveon.org battle cry of Bad Big Oil Companies and Big Bad Boy Bush.
Focus on energy independence (drilling on US Land, and renewable sources). Kudo’s to Sununu!!!
- Peter, Stratham
Can someone explain to me how Democrats feel it is sound economic policy to subsidize farmers who are earning record profits and concurrently push for higher taxes on oil companies. Am I missing something? The Dems other "answers" to energy concerns are to sue OPEC for not producing enough oil, when we aren't producing as much as we could ourselves and to regulate Wall Street. I'm all for using alternative energy, but please utilize ALL of our resources.
- MIB, Kingston, NH
Good for Senator Sununu. I couldn't agree more. I would add nuclear to his list of energys. God help NH if Shaheen and her libs are elected. I voted for Sununu when I lived in Milan,NH.
- David Nichols, Las Vegas, NV
Mike, why drill new areas when the areas that are already approved and leased haven't been drilled?
- Maria, Manchester
One of the lefts favorite battle crys these days seems to be,"it will take 10 years for that oil to reach the market".
Well let's contine with that logic(?),shall we?
All you parents sending your kids to college,STOP.It will take years to realize any payoff for such foolishness.
All you people(formerly considered responsible)saving for retirement,are you silly,that will take the better part of a LIFETIME!
At the risk of sounding heartless,I say even if we have to drill through the belly of a polar bear,or two,let's do it.
- Mike P., Manchester
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