In looking at the president’s plan there is no doubt that the energy industry succeeded with its influence during the secret closed door meetings where this plan was crafted.  It is these executives who will gain the most from this energy plan rather than Americans who need relief right now from high energy prices. 

President Bush's energy plan would take our nation in the wrong direction by emphasizing drilling and production over a balanced energy approach.  The plan calls for building 1,300 new power plants - that's 26 plants in every state - including coal processing plants that would increase emissions in 2010 by more than 40 percent of what is currently projected.  These traditional coal fired power plants pollute New Jersey's air and I cannot support a plan until regulations are in place to reduce the harmful emissions that affect the air quality in my state and across the country.

Part of Bush's solution to maximize energy production is to weaken the very environmental regulations that have improved our quality of life.  Our energy policy cannot sacrifice this quality of life.  We need to assure that our air will be clean enough to breath and our water clean enough to drink while we address our energy needs.  

I strongly believe there are methods to increase energy production other than drilling on pristine wilderness and off our nation's coasts.  I believe we need both a short-term and long-term solution.  First, we need to make sure American's today are relieved of price gouging and a faulty energy market system.  President Bush should call on OPEC today to increase production, and should use his authority over the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to release crude oil so that consumers can finally get some relief from high gas prices.  The president also should call on the Justice Department to investigate energy prices to assure that illegal price fixing is not taking place.  Second, we need to maximize energy production on lands currently available for exploration without sacrificing our environment.  Third, we need to promote the use of energy efficient technology and conservation.

American ingenuity has created great inventions, we need an energy policy that takes advantage of this ingenuity and moves America's energy production and use into the 21st century.