Huntsman unveils energy plan in N.H.
DURHAM, N.H. – Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman today laid out an energy plan that would expand domestic energy production; open the market for transportation fuels other than oil; and fund basic research in energy technology.
“For the sake of America’s economic and national security, we must unshackle ourselves from the scourge of foreign oil,’’ Huntsman said, in a speech to more than 125 people, mostly students, at the University of New Hampshire.
The former Utah governor spoke after touring the university’s power plant – a combined heat- and power-producing plant, called a cogeneration plant, that powers campus with methane gas from a landfill. Huntsman’s basic ideas were similar to those laid out by other Republican candidates – expanding domestic energy production and rolling back government regulations.
Huntsman said he would support drilling for oil across the United States, including in Alaska, and in the Gulf of Mexico. He would import more oil from Canada, and would support the Keystone pipeline, a proposed pipeline that would transport oil from Canada to refineries in the United States. He would favor the use of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,’’ a method of extracting natural gas that has been criticized by environmental activists. He would lift regulations that limit the export of coal, and remove barriers to the development of nuclear technology.
“Regulations and approvals for new wells and pipelines need to be streamlined, and directed to move at the speed of business,’’ Huntsman said.
In the transportation industry, Huntsman said he would “break oil’s monopoly’’ on fueling vehicles, eliminating regulatory barriers to converting vehicles to natural gas.
He said, “The Federal Trade Commission and Senate Judiciary Committee must commence an expedited review of the fuel distribution network.
“Breaking oil’s monopoly will also require the repeal of regulations that prevent a truly open and fair market.’’
Huntsman said he would support “state-based solutions,’’ looking for example at California’s geothermal industry, and Iowa’s energy from wind.
He would also eliminate all subsidies for the energy industry – whether oil, natural gas, wind or solar power – and would instead invest in “basic research that will lead to the energy technologies of tomorrow.’’
One energy initiative that Huntsman stopped short of supporting was the controversial Northern Pass project, which has raised a firestorm of criticism in New Hampshire. The Northern Pass project involves creating a new transmission line from a hydroelectric power facility in Canada to a “power pool’’ in New England. Northern Pass says the project will lessen reliance on fossil fuels. But the project has met fierce opposition across New Hampshire, including from property owners who fear their land will be taken against their will through the power of eminent domain.
Asked about the project, Huntsman said he thinks private property rights should prevail. But, he said, “It isn’t an either, or. It’s private property right holders and community members sitting down with government regulators, corporate representatives and making decisions that maybe reroute something, maybe deal with the project differently.’’
This is the third major policy address Huntsman has given in New Hampshire, the state where he is staking his campaign and trying to build his base of support. Yesterday, he rolled out a list of 47 New Hampshire businessmen who are supporting him, led by Renee Riedel-Plummer, vice president of marketing at the corporate real estate development firm Two International Group; First Colebrook Bank CEO Jim Tibbetts; and former state senator and founder of the medical supply distributor Bound Tree Medical David Currier.
Later today, Huntsman plans to tour Global Relief Technologies in Portsmouth, a company that creates mobile computing technology for use in military operations, emergency relief, and other extreme situations.
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