George Phillies for President 2008

Phillies: Private Enterprise Can Solve Energy Cost Issues

Worcester, Mass, May 7: Libertarian Presidential candidate George Phillies proposed that the Federal government should actually do something to improve the energy price situation. «Sensible Libertarian approaches have two important features,» he said. «First, they are based on reality. Second, they do not ask the Federal government to do things it does poorly.»
«The rapid climb in energy prices has two main causes. First, petroleum production has been nearly static for several years. Second, India, China, and other places are entering the modern wealthy world; their energy demand is soaring.
«There are few credible opportunities for more oil drilling in America. We’ll be lucky to replace old oil fields. Foreign competition will only increase. Our real choice is to move to alternative energy sources. Fortunately, from sunny southwestern deserts to the windy northern border, America is enormously well placed to do this.
«I propose that Uncle Sam should make an offer to private enterprise: We will give you long-term, fixed price contracts at competitive rates to buy electricity from new, renewable sources. Uncle Sam will offer to buy up to its entire energy consumption.
«The government won’t try to do research or build its own power plants. That’s what private enterprise does best. However, those long-term contracts are guarantees private firms can take to the bank for financing. At present manufacturing rates for wind and solar-concentrating generators and wind and solar storage facilities, ,y offer needs years to implement. As it is implemented, Federal demand for hydrocarbons will plummet, reducing market competition with private Americans.»
George Phillies is a candidate for the Libertarian Presidential nomination. He’s a physicist, with degrees from MIT;he teaches at the Worcester polytechnic Institute.