Focusing on energy

Standing under the Blackburn’s Gas N Wash sign with prices showing $3.79 per gallon, Mike Johanns talked about energy policies.

“This has a profound impact on the families in this state and on our economy,” the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate said during a stop in Fremont Wednesday.

So far, he said, both Republicans and Democrats have missed the point in the energy debate.

“Republicans have missed the point because they haven’t demanded more of the oil companies when it comes to exploration, investment in renewable fuels, that ‘green’ economy that we talk about that is so important to the state of Nebraska,” Johanns said.

“I will also tell you that I believe Democrats have missed the point,” he added. “Why? Their idea is we’ll just tax it more. The reality of that is in a nation like ours, we don’t have price controls so that will get passed to the person who will pull up to the pump here and fill up their car with gasoline.”

In his position paper he posted Sunday on his Web site, Johanns said too much of the current energy debate has been focused on saying no. It’s time to say “yes,” he said.

“We need to look at this from a complete standpoint,” Johanns aid. “Yes, we need more conservation, more energy-efficient vehicles -- plug-in vehicles, hybrid vehicles. We need to say ‘yes’ to more exploration and more drilling. Oftentimes it is said we have resources as large as Saudi Arabia but so much of it has been placed off limits by environmental rules that quite honestly don’t make any sense.”

The nation needs to consider more nuclear energy and to continue to develop renewable fuels.

“We are the second-largest producer of corn-based ethanol in the nation,” Johanns said. “This year we will produce more than 1 billion gallons. That’s a billion gallons less that we’ll have to buy from foreign sources. So corn-based ethanol is an important part of the solution for today. It’s an important part of the solution for the future.”

Johanns said there is much misinformation out in the public about corn-based ethanol.

“There are some who want to blame everything on ethanol,” he said. “The facts just don’t support it.”

While his plan calls for corn-based ethanol to be part of the fuel solution, he also calls for investment in cellulosic ethanol research and development.

He also supports the development and use of wind and solar energy, the development of battery-operated vehicles and more efficient cars and trucks.

In addition to expanding domestic oil exploration, Johanns wants to streamline regulations on refineries that he said “are squeezing the gas supply and driving up costs for consumers.”

Johanns’ nine-point energy plan is part of his position paper “Here’s Where I Stand: A Plan for Our Future,” which was released Sunday.

Johanns, the former governor and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, faces Democrat Scott Kleeb, Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Nebraska Part candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg in the November general election.

The winner will replace Sen. Chuck Hagel, who is not seeking re-election after serving two terms in the Senate.