Hickory Daily Record

Our nation faces a grave energy crisis, but with the right leadership, we can convert this challenge into a great opportunity to create jobs, strengthen our national security, and protect our natural resources.

Skyrocketing gas prices are busting our family budgets and shrinking our businesses’ bottom lines. At the same time, America’s dependence on Middle East oil leaves our national security at the mercy of unstable and sometimes hostile foreign regimes. Our addiction to foreign oil is an economic issue, a security issue, and a moral issue that requires immediate action.

We cannot leave this crisis for our children to solve.

Energy independence can only be established through efficiency and innovation. Increased domestic drilling alone is shortsighted and does not address the real problem - our addiction to foreign oil. It just punts the issue to the next generation.

In Congress, I will fight for a comprehensive energy policy. We can bring down the cost of gas by either increasing the supply or cutting the demand, and a good energy policy will do both. To cut the demand, we can start by continuing to raise the fuel efficiency standards of cars on our roads. Congress should also provide tax incentives for small businesses and residential homes to increase energy efficiency.

We must also aggressively pursue the development and practical use of clean, renewable energy to power our cars, homes, and businesses. The 10th District can play a major role in this emerging and lucrative industry.

Our skilled labor force can fill the new manufacturing jobs created by the development of solar, wind and biofuel energy. Congress should provide loans to entrepreneurs with the best plans to harness alternative energy sources. We should investigate ways to produce safe and more affordable nuclear power.

We can create a market for alternative energy by blending renewable fuels into the petroleum supply and requiring that a certain amount of electricity be produced from alternative energy.

We can also increase the amount of gas available. It does not add up that big oil companies are making record profits and receiving record subsidies while the price at the pump is reaching record levels.

These oil companies have not built new refineries since the 1970s. Congress must force oil companies to operate their refineries at an increased capacity, and to build new refineries.

Domestic drilling that makes a minimal impact on our natural resources should be an option, but increased drilling will not bring down gas prices if there is no capacity to refine it.

Unfortunately, the 10th District has suffered too long from a lack of leadership on this critical issue. Congress has wasted too much time playing politics and serving special interests, and now we are paying the price at the pump.

We need a leader with vision, a leader willing to work with others, and a leader with the courage to make tough decisions to establish energy independence.

We can’t afford to wait two more years.

Hickory resident Daniel Johnson is the Democratic nominee for the 10th Congressional District.