News: Opinions vary on energy bill

This week’s Canyon News has an article about Rep. Mac Thornberry’s attempt to re-introduce an energy bill. The bill would increase production of wind, oil and nuclear energy. The article focuses on objections from Thornberry’s 2008 Democratic rival, Roger Waun, who criticizes Thornberry’s alternate energy record and says the money should be spent on wind energy instead.

Here’s an excerpt.

“His main objective to these bills seems to be that he doesn’t believe that the five major oil companies, who have racked up over $123 billion in profit, should have to give up $26 billion in tax breaks,” Waun said.

“Most of the money from the tax breaks was used to buy back their own stock, not to produce more oil wells in this country.”

Waun said the the Department of Energy recently reported that even by opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, it would take 20 years for that oil to reach our market, with the result being only a $1.31 per barrel reduction.

Waun said that our district is in the middle of the largest windfield in the country.

“We need an engine to drive this economy,” said Waun.

“I would bring together elected officials to see what we can do together.”

Waun said that wind energy technicians can make $50,000 a year to start.

“The town of Sweetwater is really booming because of the utilization of wind energy,” he said. “Their college has a program to train technicians for 18 months and then they can have a $50,000 job when they get out.”

You can read the whole article at the Canyon News web site.