Ann Kirkpatrick on Energy & Oil

Climate change is one of biggest national security threats

Ann Kirkpatrick: Global climate change is one of the biggest national security threats our country faces, now and certainly in the future.

We need to be creating incentives for corporations and American families, we should be investing in renewable energy technologies on a federal and state level. For example, Arizona should be leading the country in solar-- it would make the economy and advance the state.

Our country is already facing serious climate change repercussions, we need to start mitigating the problem to ensure we have resources for future generations. Advancing energy should not wreck the economy, it could make our economy.

Some government action for climate change

Kirkpatrick: Yes

McCain: Clear acknowledgement in the past, but more recently has questioned. Also voted against amendment stating that human activity causes climate change.

Q: On Climate Change: Should government limit the levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere?

Kirkpatrick: Mixed. Supported some, but opposed Obama's Clean Power Plan and sought to delay new ozone standards. Acknowledges need to fight climate change and reduce carbon footprint, but environmental record mixed--wary of efforts she says could harm local economies or keep us dependent on foreign oil.

McCain: Previously yes, currently no. Voted to overturn Obama's Clean Power Plan, delay ozone standard, and prohibit carbon tax.

Drill on public lands; drill offshore; keep oil in US

Right now, oil companies have more than 68 million acres of public land already available to be drilled. If oil companies began drilling on these 68 million acres today, they would nearly double U.S. oil production and cut oil imports from overseas by one-third.

I support drilling in new offshore regions as long as we guarantee that every drop of oil stays in the United States and is not shipped off to China.

Voted NO on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution.

1. issuing, trading, and verifying renewable electricity credits; and
2. prescribing standards to define and measure electricity savings from energy efficiency and energy conservation measures.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Rep. ED MARKEY (D, MA-7): For the first time in the history of our country, we will put enforceable limits on global warming pollution. At its core, however, this is a jobs bill. It will create millions of new, clean-energy jobs in whole new industries with incentives to drive competition in the energy marketplace. It sets ambitious and achievable standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass so that by 2020, 20% of America's energy will be clean.

Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. BOB GOODLATTE (R, VA-6): I agree that this bill has very important consequences, but those consequences are devastating for the future of the economy of this country. It's a fantasy that this legislation will turn down the thermostat of the world by reducing CO2 gas emissions when China & India & other nations are pumping more CO2 gas into the atmosphere all the time. We would be far better served with legislation that devotes itself to developing new technologies before we slam the door on our traditional sources of energy like coal and oil and and nuclear power. We support the effort for energy efficiency. We do not support this kind of suicide for the American economy. Unfortunately, cap and trade legislation would only further cripple our economy.

Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico.

Congressional Summary: House amendment to H.R. 5538, the Interior & Environment Agencies Appropriations bill for FY 2017. This amendment would prohibit funds to be used to research, investigate, or study offshore drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Heritage Foundation recommends voting NO: (7/13/2016): The Gulf of Mexico continues to be a very important asset for our energy future and it continues to produce significant amounts of oil and natural gas. Yet the Eastern Gulf of Mexico has not participated to this point despite its significant potential. A 2014 Heritage Foundation report said: "Excessive regulations and bureaucratic inefficiencies have stymied oil production and prevented the full effects of the energy boom." This amendment would block any potential progress that could take place by preventing the necessary work that would need to be prepared in the East Gulf for potential lease sales and eventual production.

Sierra Club recommends voting YES: (1/12/1974): The Sierra Club believes that no offshore petroleum exploration should occur unless and until the following conditions are met:

• Strengthen the Coastal Zone Management System.
• Lease sales should be prohibited in areas that possess:
  • High seismic activity
  • Fragile or unstable geological structures
  • Proximity to particularly diverse or productive marine ecosystems, or marine sanctuaries
  • Where visual impact of offshore structures would significantly reduce aesthetic values
  • Where the risks are unusually high.
• Petroleum exploration and production must be subject to automatic, heavy fines for all oil spills regardless of cause.
• The Sierra Club opposes leasing of lands beyond 200 meters depth until international agreements [define] ownership of sea floor resources.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 185 to 243 (no Senate vote).