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Fortenberry: Build energy future now

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BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Saturday, Jul 19, 2008 - 04:01:39 pm CDT

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry said Friday it’s time for the United States to mount “a man-on-the-moon effort” to move to a sustainable energy future.

“We should seize this moment” when $4-a-gallon-gas has dramatized the need to build a bridge to renewable energy sources, he said.

“Responsible domestic production, including offshore (oil) exploration and development in an environmentally responsible manner, can help increase our energy independence,” the 1st District Republican congressman said.

Story Photo
Jeff Fortenberry (Courtesy)

“We must also fully integrate conservation, new technologies and a variety of renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biofuels into our energy strategy.”

America needs “a bold new energy vision now,” Fortenberry said during an interview in his Lincoln office.

Dependence on foreign oil has created economic, environmental and national security vulnerabilities for the country, he said.

The price of gasoline has captured the nation’s attention and can serve as the catalyst for development of a comprehensive energy policy, Fortenberry said.

And Nebraska is positioned to be a leader in development of sustainable energy, he said.

Gas prices are the top concern expressed by his constituents in eastern Nebraska, Fortenberry said.

“This moment should rattle us and compel us to act.”

Fortenberry proposed tapping the revenue stream fueled by offshore exploration to provide tax credits that spur development of  wind and solar energy.

“Congress has been nibbling at the margin,” he said.  “It’s time to expand the full range of opportunities we have.”

In transportation, he said, it’s time to develop battery technology for motor vehicles.

“As we move aggressively to build capacity for sustainable energy, Congress should encourage the creative and innovative role of small entrepreneurs,” Fortenberry said.

In the recently-enacted farm bill, Fortenberry inserted an initiative that would provide support to rural communities seeking to become self-sufficient in energy production through the use of renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass, biofuels and biogas.

Fortenberry is a co-sponsor of legislation to extend tax credits for renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.


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Dano wrote on July 18, 2008 2:35 pm:
" Sounds like a great idea, but where does this mention any real plans or ideas? Where does it show you are pushing something in office now? This sounds like another policitian just saying what everyone knows/wants to hear, so he can be re-elected. How about putting out some kind of strategy out that isn't canned from your party lines? How about giving the public some idea of what leadership you are going to provide in this manner? I don't care if it is even supporting the Boone Pickens movement out of OK, at least it shows you have an idea of where to lead us (even if it is not original).

I haven't fully made up my mind on you yet, but this lack of information on what you believe is a viable plan, doesn't really help your chances at my vote. Put out something we can get behind or hold you to. I know that requires making a promise, but those get broken all the time. At least you can share a vision, and if you are on the right path, your vision altered by compromise, is still a vision.

"Saying and doing are two different things" as the quote goes, but saying just to say it, is even less valuable if there is no real detail to a means to get the job done. Heck, I can say the exact same thing. Guess I should run for office, too. This is exactly why people are fed up with Washington. All it is hot air up to election time, and a cold shoulder and sorry after. "

 Lincolnite wrote on July 18, 2008 2:38 pm:
" Been hanging out with Al Gore lately? It's almost funny LJS didn't mention the former veep made the same "call to action" this week ... I normally somewhat like Fortenberry, but this makes him look even more like a copycat. "

 Ira D. Jinkins wrote on July 18, 2008 2:47 pm:
" Thank you Congressman Fortenberry, for your statements. I strongly agree that we need a 'buffet style energy policy'. I am not sure just how many of our fellow Nebraskans and fellow Americans, are aware of the facts that the state of Texas, is already on the cutting edge, nuclear power plant, wind turbine farms, geo thermal, oil and gas, housing industry is booming, manufacturing, livestock and more. Meanwhile, the remainder of America, is hurting. When I stated years ago, 'that we need to take care of home first, before we could take care of other countries', I was not just talking about, 'Texas'. Apparently, our Texas delegates, thought that I was just talking about Texas, literally. What are we 'doing Nebraska'?? "

 MarkyMark wrote on July 18, 2008 2:57 pm:
" Do nothings like Fortenberry are starting to make Al Gore look like a Bonafide prophet. "

 Realist wrote on July 18, 2008 2:59 pm:
" Hold on, Jeff Fortenberry, you supported billions of dollars on a fossil fuel strategy to build bases in Iraq; don’t do a flip flop and expect us to believe you now. And you are far off target, conservation and retrofitting our infrastructure to accommodate less dependence on energy sources is the bold step we need. You’ve spent to much time with lobbyists rather than cultural transformation experts who look at things like why it is morally wrong to use food grains in biofuels, how to reduce national use of energy in transport systems, The last time citizens were “rattled and compelled” by government was the rush to war in Iraq when there was unfinished business in Afghanistan. That war has wasted how much on fossil fuels? It is a conservation policy, not another lobbyist advanced energy plan our nation requires. It might help for you to listen to the younger Max Yashirin for a path to change.. "

 Chris wrote on July 18, 2008 3:02 pm:
" Normally I can't stand Fortenberry, but I'm with him on this. Whether it is mere lip service or not, we will see. The amount of money we ship overseas for our energy is appalling. Coupled with the "defense" money spent protecting our interests, our current policy is bankrupting the country. I hope Obama's presidency tackles this issue head on. Every American can make a difference by reducing their consumption of all forms of energy, starting by moving into a house close to the city center to cut down on driving, and downsizing into a reasonably sized house. "

 Outside the Box wrote on July 18, 2008 3:11 pm:
" While some sort of plan or raw concept beyond vague generalities would be nice, it is refreshing to hear a republican whose idea of energy policy is something other than "drill, drill, drill". "

 Rodger Green wrote on July 18, 2008 3:23 pm:
" Drill anyplace our country has jurisdiction.....provided none of the oil is sold outside the US. That should help reduce both our dependence on foreign oil and the price of gas. Refineries would have to have permission to go off line for shceduled maintenance so ensure an adequate supply. "

 Tom wrote on July 18, 2008 3:27 pm:
" Congress, it's time to get off the leisure trips & get something done. No August vacation, go to work. You have had 30 to 40 years to come up with an alternative energy solution. “a bold new energy vision now,” Fortenberry said during an interview , Jeff where have you been ?? GM should have had a car in the wings just waiting for this opportunity. "

 Jonas wrote on July 18, 2008 4:11 pm:
" Dano: Maybe you should do some research before exposing your political agenda in attacking Fortenberry. At least he's not adopted the typical GOP mantra Drill here Drill now and is talking about a forward-looking approach to energy policy that leaves some kind of future for our children. And you don't have to go farther than the Representative's website to see the things he and other forward-looking Representatives, Republicans and Democrats - are doing to change energy policy, such as supporting tax incentives for wind and solar development and redirecting subsidies received by oil companies to renewable energy research and development. Also Fortenberry worked in the farm bill to help get support for rural communities becoming energy self-sufficient through renewables.

Don't be deceptive and mean-spirited because you don't like someone's party affiliation. I thought all that CHANGE we've been hearing about was supposed to make us better than that. "

 Day Late wrote on July 18, 2008 4:21 pm:
" Fortenberry is a day late again. Why is he coming out with this now? Why didn't he propose this 6 years ago, or at least last year?

He is only coming out in support of this because everyone is screaming about the price of energy.

This is just another stunt by him that will go nowhere after and if he gets re-elected.

I for one will not vote for an oportunist like him. "

 john wrote on July 18, 2008 4:31 pm:
" NOW he says he wants to do it. Although I don't disagree with the idea (which is really not his...but some of us 'greenies' that he does not like). Where were these words when he first got into office. Fortenberry is just another tag along that has no original thoughts of his own. His stupidity is chin deep. "

 Darren wrote on July 18, 2008 4:32 pm:
" Drilling isn't going to fix this. We could spend the same amount of time and money on researching, developing and implementing non fossil fuel technologies and 10 years from now when the first drops of newly drilled oil finally started trickling into a refinery we would be starting to ween ourselves from the oil dependancy. Why would we follow the "lead" of the two oil men in the whitehouse that are looking towards their future out of office and not our future on the planet? "

 Angie wrote on July 18, 2008 4:40 pm:
" Fortenberry pandering to the public again? Be direct with constituents if you want them to trust you Congressman. Tell the truth about off shore drilling, risks involved and low reserves. Advancing this policy won’t cut back on use nor supply enough to be significant. Deregulation of natural gas and energy prices have stoked inflation, wild speculation in the markets have brought an irrational fear causing adverse price volatility when market demand has steadily increased. Europeans are paying nearly $9.00 a gallon for gas, this includes taxes that have helped make strong their mass transportation infrastructure. Jeff, the EU opposes use of food grains for biofuel. Get real.. "

 ta wrote on July 18, 2008 6:06 pm:
" WOW wonder what his party has to say about going agaist them. I mean the OIl party otherwise know as the GOP. Good for you JF "

 st wrote on July 18, 2008 6:11 pm:
" More offshore drilling....wow, what a bold and brave idea for our energy future....what will it take for people to realize that a truly viable energy future is one that doesn't depend on oil (or other fossil fuels) at all, foreign or domestic? "

 Rxwoman wrote on July 18, 2008 8:04 pm:
" Well, better late than never, I suppose. However, being that Fortenberry is a Republican, I wonder what his real motive is.
A couple years ago he held a " Renewable Energy" seminar with various speakers. I was impressed. I attended this seminar, and was disapointed as all the ideas and initiatives seemed to favor a big business approach. So, once again it seems nothing can happen in this country unless corporate America, or special interests can reap massive profits from it. Never mind whether it is good for the country or not. "

 Support the Fort wrote on July 18, 2008 8:08 pm:
" The Fort and Lee Terry have been working their tails off to find better energy alternatives. With Jeff's hard work and plan for energy independence, we won't ever have to beg the table of men wearing ghutras for oil again. We can get those gas prices down if we follow Jeff's bold new initiatives to lead us into the future. "

 First step wrote on July 18, 2008 9:56 pm:
" The very first step that needs and must be taken is, "Drill here, drill now!" The US can have oil coming from some areas within a couple of years. Lets go get it and keep it home. While folks are drilling, others can be working on additional sources of energy. We don't need only one source but rather several. But lets not wait any longer on drilling. "

 natefrog wrote on July 19, 2008 12:12 am:
" The first step begins with oil independence. 'Drill[ing] Here, Drill[ing] Now" doesn't help that at all and is very shortsighted. "

 Dan wrote on July 19, 2008 6:41 am:
" Fortenberry? Who's that? Oh...wait I remember. Must be an election year. "

 Mr. Reality wrote on July 19, 2008 7:02 am:
" Kudos, is right, if people would do a little research they would see answers to their own questions. In reference to the "corporate only solution" comment, Fortneberry's congressional website directly addresses small entrepeneurs, one a hog farmer's and another a farmers' cooperative use of landfill both to collect methane. Tax credits (Fortenberry was cosponser for legislation) to promote renewable energy sources such as wind and solar is exactly what the individual home owner and small communities can use as a boot strap to get on the path to using American sustainable energy sources and stop the dependence on international fossil fuel sources. "

 DJ wrote on July 19, 2008 8:29 am:
" Interesting. A few weeks ago Jeff's newsletter touted the "battery car" being able go a hundred miles, currently, and 200 miles "in a few years". I thought at the time those were "inside the beltway" talking points, as he must have forgotten how large this State really is. 200 miles in one day..is that like Omaha to Kearney? I can hardly wait until I meet an 18-wheeler, in my light-weight battery car in a 40 mph cross-wind on some highway. Will I get spun around completely, or just get thrown in a ditch??? "

 Be Nice..Day Late wrote on July 19, 2008 8:57 am:
" You can't have expected Fortenberry to have embraced these ideas 6 years ago. After all, back then it was just a Liberal or Progressive idea. "

 market failure wrote on July 19, 2008 10:13 am:
" Frankly, I'm shocked to see that Mr. Fortenberry is saying the markets are not working to solve all of our problems. In fact, he's saying that the markets have solved all of our problems, as business operated only for the short-run and ignored all longterm issues. Amazing that the government is always there to bail out big business for its irresponsibility and stupidity, but when individuals find themselves in need it's always their own fault and government should not help. Nice Jeff. Good to see who you really care about and, as usual, it's big business, not citizens. "

 Good wrote on July 19, 2008 10:16 am:
" thinking Fortenberry, "do it now" while prices have gone thru the roof,
everybody is struggling just to eat and get to work. Yeah thats good
election jigs for you isn't it? Where have all these smart intellingent
university educated people been for the last umpteen years we've yelped
about this problem. Everybody wants to be elected to the big office, pay
and perks but ya don't hear much until the gas price started hurting
the ones that should have been doing something about it long ago instead
of voting for their own raises!!! "

 JR wrote on July 19, 2008 10:25 am:
" While I welcome most of Fortenberry's thoughts, I still find it to be too little on detail and too heavy on drilling. Driling will get us no where and only slightly delay the inevitable. Why not take the tax breaks from big oil and use those to spur new energy development? This would still allow the big oil to get their tax credits, but they would have to earn them first. "

 Chub wrote on July 19, 2008 11:04 am:
" Offshore drilling does not have sustainable capacity. Off shore drilling has high environmental risks. The net sum pegs the proposal It is time to end (Abort) the Fort’s position in the House. His Bush alliance is one dangerous to the nation and will continue to leave a nation behind. Does the Fort remind you of Sisyphus (cursed to roll a huge bolder up a hill, only to watch it roll down again , and to repeat this throughout eternity)? It will be great to read of Max Yashirin’s position and strategy for an energy portfolio. I’d guess international relations and diplomacy for trade will be included. "

 Now wrote on July 19, 2008 11:27 am:
" We can't go backwards in time to the cheap oil days when everyone a pol like Fortenberry would have listened to was saying it'll never change. Now that people (not just Al Gore) are noticing how expensive a fossil fuel based economy is becoming, we have no choice but to run like hell toward alternatives. Which alternatives should be left for the market to decide! We should eliminate energy tax breaks and incentive programs for everything but conservation efforts, and let companies figure out for themselves what's going to work, then tax them based on carbon emissions! "

 Charlie J. wrote on July 19, 2008 12:06 pm:
" What has Rep. Jeff Fortenberry really done for Nebraska or his district? "

 Charolette wrote on July 19, 2008 2:13 pm:
" Drill it no to keep it home? It is really unlikely that oil will ever stray from the USA. And while there is a finite quantity of oil, the most strategic move would be to keep it untapped should and emergency or future generation need it. Robbing a limited resource bank to fulfill the needs of an addiction is hardly healthy. Off shore drilling is sloppy policy, not the conservative values our nation needs. "

 To Charlie J wrote on July 19, 2008 8:05 pm:
" What do you call working hard to introduce H.Res.1113: Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day,
passed, then voting against the very bill that he sponsored? That is the type of creative procedural mastery that Jeff Fortenberry can offer to Nebraskans. Why throw away that kind of genius for a well-intended but inexperienced and unqualified veteran? "

 DOC wrote on July 20, 2008 3:51 am:
" Okay Class, anyone remember the 1970's? When we had gas lines and there actually was a shortage via OPEC. Have you pulled up to a pump lately? Was there gas? Then the price rise is not due to a shortage. In the 1970's, I thought it would take $4. gas to get people really screaming. Now I think that it will be $7 gas although I hear Barock Obamma is saying gas will hit $12. a gallon. Until we put every option on the table nothing will happen. Back in 1975, we needed a Manhatten project like we had before and during WWII. We are not going to stop drilling due to risk, not when the Ruskies are drilling about 30 miles off our shores. All of the congressmen have been so busy since 1975 getting their approval ratings down near zero that we now are seeing the "Peter Principle" come forth. I think just picking 545 people from the Lincoln phone book could have done better. "

 DJ wrote on July 20, 2008 7:41 am:
" I see congress is considering dropping the speed limit back to 55. Since we must conserve, and we know thousands of emergencies happen each day, I propose that Ambulances and Firetrucks be limited to 25mph when responding. Can you just Imagine the Carbon Footprint from a speeding Firetruck? This must Stop, Now! "

 chubs wrote on July 20, 2008 2:14 pm:
" All talk no action seems to be common. "

 jcnasty wrote on July 20, 2008 4:09 pm:
" I heard environmentalists were working hard at eradicating the fortenberry. It is extremely invasive and starts to make you think "like you have mud in your brain," states C. Everett Coop. Any truth to the rumors? "

 Rxwoman wrote on July 20, 2008 6:01 pm:
" DJ, but how often do you drive over 200 miles in a day? Most people's daily driving is 35 miles, or under. To work, to school, to the grocery store, then back home. Even a drive to Omaha is only 100 miles round trip. A plug in hybrid that will go 100 to 150 miles on a charge, but the combustable engine will kick in if you exceed the batterys charge, to go further. We have cars that can do that NOW. And how about making it a 3 cylinder diesel? Doing that would give such a car 70 to 100 miles a gallon for the combustable engine. This is technology that is available right now, TODAY. There are European cars that can do just that, but they are not available in the U.S. Hmmm? I wonder why . "

 Dano wrote on July 21, 2008 8:44 am:
" I could care less about Mr. Fortenberry's party affiliation. I don't vote a party line, never have, never will. But if you are going to go through the lengths of putting something out on the table, then put out a real plan, don't copy someone else's or spit out a bunch of catch phrases. Don't make me, the voter have to dig and dig for the information, when you could have easily presented it to the LJS to be redistributed in the article. Would have been far more useful to me than some quotes. Maybe that is the LJS writer not going into detail, but I doubt it.

And don't kid yourself about the "undisputable" farm bill, it is not a great as everyone makes it out to be. There is plenty of wasteful spending built into that as well. Look at the details before you go hawking support of it and calling out my intentions. I will call it like I see it. Just another politician saying what has to be said, without a real plan about how, just a cathc phrase to do it. I would love it for once, if I didn't have to research their true stance on my own, and they would put it out their for the media. I far more respect for people with actions plans, whether right or wrong, because I can see where they really stand. If I have to look it up, it isn't firm, or they aren't sure they want it known. I will stand by my comments. "

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