7/29/2019 McDonnell & Mead OpEd - Aug 22 2012 - Politico

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By Gov. Bob McDonnell and

Gov.Matt Mead

During the worst economic downturn

since the Great Depression, the

president experiments with mandatory

health insurance penalties, a failed

$831 billion stimulus and other issues.

At the same time, he largely ignores

a major policy area with tremendous,

job-boosting potential - growth of the

energy sector.

Increasing American energy production

could create millions of well-paying

jobs, provide new revenues to pay down

the federal debt, restore condence

to every business and provide more

affordable energy to households

across America - all while advancing

environmental progress.

Unfortunately, after nearly four years in

ofce, the president has failed to developa sensible, comprehensive energy policy.

In fact, by impeding projects like the

Keystone XL pipeline and enacting

policies that restrict energy production,

this administration has made clear

that it is unwilling to fully harness our

domestic energy or provide the benets

of energy development to the American

people. We need a leader with a bold

plan to get our country on the righttrack.

To ll the void in leadership from the

president, Republican governors have

developed An Energy Blueprint for

America that gives a true assessment of

the energy challenges and opportunities

facing our nation and, more importantly,

offers solutions for reaching our energy

potential. The plan recognizes the need

for a state-centric approach that utilizesevery means of energy production.

Key provisions include:

Regulatory Modernization

A cumulative cost-benet analysis

of the barrage of new regulations

promulgated and enacted by the

Environmental Protection Agen

under this administration must undertaken.

Our nations core environmen

statutes have not been modernized

over 20 years. The time has come to r

examine these statutes to make certa

environmental policy is performanc

based and responsive to changing cos

technologies and needs.

The Department of Interior hrestricted millions of square miles

federal lands and waters from ener

development. The department shou

open federal lands and waters for ener

production - and not just for renewabl

Litigation has increasingly be

the norm for determining air qual

standards. The states and private sect

need certainty - legislation is necessa

to provide this certainty.

The National Environmental Poli

Act (NEPA) process must be reform

to create consistency among fede

agencies.

Federal agencies such as the EPA mu

respect the states role in federal a

state partnerships.

An energy blueprint for America

Support state

leadership to

provide safe and

effective regulatory

management

of uranium

development.

OPINION CONTRIBUTOR

AUGUST 22, 2012

7/29/2019 McDonnell & Mead OpEd - Aug 22 2012 - Politico

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Oil

Approve the remaining portion of

the Keystone XL Pipeline and ease

regulatory burdens which prevent the

construction and operation of adequate

petroleum infrastructure.

Allow for responsible development in

the National Petroleum Reserve and the

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Lift restrictions on drilling on the

Outer Continental Shelf. Waters off

states like Virginia, which was removed

from the most recent Five Year Plan by

the Obama administration, should be

reopened to job-creating explorationand development.

Work with Canada and Mexico to

further develop the idea of a North

American Energy Partnership.

Natural Gas

End attempts by the federal

government to restrict natural gas

production and allow states to developsound environmental regulation.

Establish state best practices for

regulation of hydraulic fracturing.

Federal regulatory regimes layered over

state regulations increase costs and

delays with no added benet.

Coal

Reconsider federal environmental

regulations proposed and promulgatedunder the current administration.

Allow the NEPA process to ll its

intended purpose. Do not use it to block

commerce and exports.

Nuclear

Support state leadership to provide safe

and effective regulatory management of

uranium development.

Insist the federal government fulll its

obligation to implement a program to

manage used nuclear fuel.

Renewables

Any renewable or clean energy

standard for electricity production

would be counter-productive and should

be left to the states.

Infrastructure

Expedite permitting for transmission,

pipeline and renery infrastructure.

Establish sensible regulatory polic

for reners and reconsider burdensom

rules.

Research & Development

The government plays an important roin research and development but lon

term subsidies are counterproductiv

The private sector must be protable

order to develop new technologies.

Despite the impact of energy on eve

facet of the economy, Americas ener

future is not a focus of the curre

administration. These ideas offer

by Republican governors will help p

America back to work and proviAmerican economic and ener

security.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell

Chairman of the Republican Govern

Association. Wyoming Governor M

Mead is Chairman of the Republic

Governors Public Policy Committe

Energy and Environment Committee.

AUGUST 22, 20