The following is from my statement on energy policy issued during my congressional campaign against Jim McDermott last year:

online source: http://www.berenforcongress.com/energy.html

When it comes to energy policy, we need to avoid the mistakes of the past. A half century ago, we assumed oil would forever be plentiful and inexpensive. Our assumption was wrong; our mistake was being stuck in the present and not looking forward.

To avoid this happening again, we need to prioritize.

First, we need to put the highest priority on ending our dependence on foreign oil. Our national security gives this a special priority in any energy policy. If we are going to use oil, it is preferable that we use domestic oil.

But that will not solve the overall historic energy problem of ending our addiction to oil. We need to recognize that there is no one fuel that will replace oil. We need to be comprehensive and open-minded in our policies.

We need to create a "Manhattan Project" for energy, utilizing science, technology, and industry - utilizing American creativity - to develop the alternate sources of energy for the future.

We can't assume that what is plentiful or scarce now will remain so, and we can't assume what is inexpensive will remain so. No single source of energy will be the magical solution to achieving energy independence. We must be open to the possibilities afforded by all sources of energy - hydroelectric, solar, wind, coal, nuclear, and biofuels.

Any future energy policy in the state of Washington should continue to rely heavily on hydroelectric power, which supplies about 85% of the power in this state.

Some people say that solar and wind power are impractical and inexpensive. But we should not assume that will always be true in the future. Some people say that coal is dirty, and nuclear is unsafe. But we should not assume that will be true in the future.

American ingenuity, creativity, and entrepreneurship can overcome the obstacles and discover the solutions of the future. We can make hydroelectric even more productive, we can make wind and solar more practical and inexpensive, we can make coal clean, and we can make nuclear safe.

One last point, and it just might be the most important. We need to persuade the American people of the urgency of ending our dependence on foreign oil. If we don't do that job of persuasion, the effort won't succeed. We need to stress the reality of the national security aspect of this issue. Every time a politician refers to a "so-called threat," a "so-called war," "so-called terrorism," the rationale for a successful energy independence policy is undermined.