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GOP: Alternative energy alone won't meet US needs
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-23 20:42

WASHINGTON -- Democrats will increase energy costs and make the US more dependent on foreign oil if they focus solely on alternative energy, the Republicans say.

GOP: Alternative energy alone won't meet US needs
Duke Energy's Tom Bailey speaks with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal during a tour at the Duke Energy Happy Jack Wind Farm near Cheyenne, Wyo. on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. [Agencies]
In the party's weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said Republicans support a more comprehensive energy plan that would increase funding for energy research, develop US oil and gas resources and promote clean coal and nuclear power.

"Democrats have focused solely on what they call green jobs. Those are jobs from alternative energy. I support green jobs, but why discriminate?" Barrasso said. "American energy means American jobs, which is why I support red-white-and-blue jobs."

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He said renewable energy such as wind and solar power is important, noting that Wyoming has world-class wind resources. But Barrasso said wind and solar only account for about 1 percent of US electricity, far below what is needed to meet the nation's energy needs.

Barrasso also said Democrats were misguided by ruling out the use of US oil in places such as the Outer Continental Shelf and Alaska.

"There's enough oil shale in the Rocky Mountain West alone to power America for the next hundred years," he said. "As a nation, we need to be more energy independent. It is a matter of energy security, as well as national security."

"As we approach this Memorial Day, it is my hope that the Democrats can work with us to develop solutions to make our energy supply clean, affordable and reliable," he said.