Gulf Coast Energy believes that our nation and we, as individuals, need a sound, forward-thinking, clearly delineated energy policy that has teeth to lead the way into the 21st century.  We don’t assume to have all the answers but would like promote discussion and debate and bring the issue to the forefront.  As I write this, our nation is about to embark on one of the most important Presidential campaigns in recent memory.  We are hopeful that the candidates will bring to the table proposals for a national energy policy that reflect those characteristics listed above.  With this in mind, below is a conceptual proposal for an energy policy we can all buy into.  We are not suggesting it is perfect or even necessarily complete, rather we are hopeful it will stimulate discussion and the promotion of this critically important issue.  

Mark L. Warner, REM
President & CEO23 July 2008  

Energy Policy Statement
We recognize that a fossil fuel-based energy paradigm has been developed and taken deep root worldwide and that this condition has existed for over a century.  We recognize that fossil fuels in general are finite, non-sustainable entities, emit sequestered carbon, and can pose significant environmental threats through extraction, transportation, production, and consumption.  We endeavor to shift this paradigm with a new energy model composed of the following three primary parameters:  societal energy responsibility/energy self-reliance; renewability/sustainability; and environmental excellence/responsibility 

1.      Energy Self-Reliance.  Discussion – A great deal of attention and energy is being placed on becoming “independent” of petroleum sourced from unstable nations, some of which may pose threats to the United States.  This is a negativity based approach giving attention and energy to those very sources.  We suggest a positivity based approach centered around a discussion of self-reliance with elements of conservation.
     a.       Self-Reliance – We would never pretend to be as eloquent as Ralph Waldo Emerson whose treatise “Self-Reliance” impacted the whole world, but we will borrow his concept.  We should take whatever steps necessary to become energy self-reliant.  We as a nation have a huge appetite for energy (we will discuss conservation below).  We should adopt policies that provide for, to the extent possible, the idea that we must produce whatever we consume domestically.  Period.  We take responsibility for our consumption habits and we behave accordingly.  To the extent we consume, we must derive the raw materials domestically; plain and simple. 
     b.      Conservation – Conservation is an important element in self-reliance so long as we understand that conservation in and of itself is not a solution but rather an instrument to help reduce the magnitude of the problem.
     c.       Energy Self-Reliance Statement - We commit to adopt policies that, to the extent possible, promote the concept that we must produce whatever energy we consume domestically including raw materials.  Further, we commit to adopt policies that promote conservation efforts at all levels of society.

2.      Renewability/Sustainability.  Discussion – The consumption of non-renewable energy sources is both irresponsible and foolish to varying degrees depending upon the material – it is a losing proposition.  It doesn’t matter whether we run out of a given substance in 10 years or 10,000 years, this paradigm is short-sighted and pawns future generations for our own real-time benefit.  We have essentially built a global economy based on a material that we are quickly running out of.  We transport the material in huge tankers thousands of miles, and when we use it, we release carbon that has been sequestered for tens of millions of years into our existing atmosphere.  Our policies should promote the use of renewable and sustainable materials and processes.  We know that this is a major shift in paradigm and sometimes such shifts appear to be painful, but it is long past time to start the process.  We believe that we will find that it’s not so painful at all.
     a.       Renewable Materials - “Renewable” refers to materials that can be re-grown, exist in nature and are not consumed in the process, or that don’t “run out.”  Examples include; biomass derived fuels and electricity, wind power, solar power, hydro, and geo-thermal.
     b.      The Food Chain – A great deal of capital and jobs have been invested over the last three decades in biofuel production from corn, soybean oil, and other food chain material.  We do not advocate a wholesale immediate shift from this in absolute terms as this could be very destructive if done too quickly.  Having said that, however, we are not in favor of the use of virgin food chain materials for fuels production.  We still have huge numbers of starving people in the world, and a problem of increasing costs of foods in the market place.  Food materials that are already waste are a different matter.  For example, converting wasted food headed for the landfill should indeed be done if possible.  We believe that all new policies should now promote the immediate but gradual shift from this paradigm.  All new facilities should be coming on line without food chain consumption.  Let’s let the food that is grown go to feed people and/or animals and let’s make fuel from other biomass sources – there is plenty of it out there.
     c.       Renewability/Sustainability Statement – We commit to adopt policies that, to the extent possible, promote the use of only renewable materials to generate energy/power in all forms.  We define renewable as those materials that can be re-grown or that occur in nature but are not “consumed” in the process.  Examples include; biomass based fuel and electricity, wind power, solar power, hydro power, and geo-thermal power.  Further, we commit to adopt policies that promote the shift from using food chain raw materials for energy production to the use of non-food chain biomass where biomass is used, except for utilizing food wastes otherwise disposed of.

3.      Environmental Responsibility and Excellence.  Discussion – A Native American adage goes something like this:  Tread lightly on the earth because the faces of the future generations are in the dirt below and they are observing us and watching our example.  This is simple but profound wisdom.  Environmental responsibility can no longer be simple public relations activities.  Environmental excellence must become cornerstone policy for any entity undertaking activity that may impact the natural state.  This includes individuals as well as organizations. 
     a.       Climate Change - Whether one believes that anthropogenic sources are contributing to enhance global warming and/or to what degree can become a secondary issue if one understands simply that the fact that carbon emissions from sequestered sources represents waste and irresponsibility.  We should strive for carbon neutrality or better.  We have a responsibility to ourselves and our children minimize our impact regardless of what degree an individual may believe in the science on either side of this issue.  It is just a simple matter of personal and societal responsibility.
     b.      Our Throw-Away Society - We should do more to address the nature of our “throw-away” society and promote technologies that reduce waste generation and also those that can take waste materials and convert them to something useful.  Technologies exist today that can effectively convert landfill waste to useful materials.  We should be promoting these activities and technologies while at the same time working towards being less wasteful to begin with.
     c.       Pollution is Waste - Lastly, any form of pollution quite simply represents waste of some kind or another.  We should be promoting the reduction of wastes at their sources as not only benefitting the environment but the “bottom line” as well.  Any waste in a process increases its costs.  Those costs are borne by all of us.  “Ecology and economy go hand in hand” should become a national mantra for organizations as well as individuals.
     d.      Environmental Responsibility and Excellence Statement – We commit to adopt policies that promote; carbon neutral or better practices, waste reduction, and pollution prevention.  Further we commit to promote existing technologies and the development of new technologies that support those tenets.  We understand that Ecology and Economy Go Hand in Hand and that the future generations depend on our action right now.  We commit to adopt policies that promote and reward environmental excellence and responsibility.