Heidi Heitkamp’s Energy Plan: Bring North Dakota Innovation to Washington, D.C.
Heitkamp Will Work With Both Parties to Build Keystone XL Pipeline, Crack Down on Unfair Oil Speculation By Big Wall Street Traders
MANDAN, N.D. — Former attorney general and U.S. Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp outlined her plans to bring North Dakota innovation to Washington, D.C. She believes it is time for Washington to finally support a sensible energy policy that would ensure affordable energy prices for middle class families. Heitkamp made her announcement at the Bismarck Petro Serve, which sells biofuels.
“For too long Washington has failed to deliver the kind of balanced energy policy that we have right here in North Dakota,” said Heitkamp. “It’s time to put the politics aside and put the country first. I’ll work with anyone in the Senate, regardless of their party, to ensure the Keystone Pipeline gets built, to reduce our dependence on Mideast oil, and to support our growing alternative sources of energy like wind and biofuels.”
Heitkamp’s outline for bringing more affordable energy prices to middle class families in North Dakota includes:
Increase Drilling and Domestic Production
As North Dakota has increasingly become a leader in energy production, our nation’s dependence on foreign sources of oil has decreased. We must continue to find new ways to grow and support the domestic production of oil, coal and natural gas. Supporting more production in the Bakken will help reduce our dependence on Mideast oil, and help create and retain jobs right here in North Dakota.
Heitkamp will also work to cut through the regulations that are harming our ability to produce more gasoline right here at home. We haven’t built a major refinery in the U.S. since the 1970′s — and the EPA itself says that the cost of complying with its own regulations led to the shutdown of 66 refineries since 1990.
Build the Keystone Pipeline
What we need now is greater investment in domestic energy development and production. That’s why Heitkamp supports projects like the Keystone pipeline — because they won’t just create jobs, they will decrease our dependence on Middle East oil.
As Senator, Heitkamp will fight alongside anyone who agrees that it’s time to move the Keystone pipeline forward – even if it means upsetting members of her own party. It’s time to put aside political games and partisan squabbles in Washington and do what’s right for North Dakotans, and what’s right for the country.
End Reckless Speculation
Today, big Wall Street traders are major players in the oil futures market. They are making a quick buck on the backs of the rest of us every time we go to fill up our gas tanks. In fact, Forbes magazine estimates that speculation is adding more than $23 to the price of a barrel of oil.
While it’s true that large airlines trade in oil futures to keep the cost of airline tickets low, that’s no reason to sit on our hands while big Wall Street traders drive up the cost of oil that they never take physical ownership of. We’re all paying the price for Washington’s refusal to tackle this problem. As Senator, Heitkamp will work to crack down on reckless speculation by Wall Street traders that drives up the cost of oil.
Support a Balanced Approach to our Energy Future
The simple fact is that coal and oil will be part of our energy mix for years to come. But alternative energy sources like wind and solar can also play a role in creating a reliable, balanced energy mix that reduces our dependence on Mideast energy sources. North Dakota leads the nation when it comes to the potential of wind energy, and as of 2011 was rated the third state in the country for wind generated electricity. As Senator, Heitkamp will work to protect and promote the growing wind energy industry, which supports thousands of North Dakota jobs.
Heidi is a longtime advocate for a strong, multi-pronged energy industry in North Dakota. She believes our state can be a leader in reducing the country’s dependence on Mideast oil through domestic energy sources such as natural gas, oil, and renewable energy like solar and wind power.
As a director of Dakota Gasification Company, she believes the Great Plains Synfuels Plant is an example of how innovative projects bring jobs to our state and make wise use of our energy resources. Every day, the plant creates, on average, more than 150 million cubic feet of synthetic natural gas from lignite coal, and captures almost half of the carbon dioxide emissions for further profit. Heidi calls it “a marvel on the prairie.”
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