John Hagelin Outlines Plan to Make U.S. Energy Self-Sufficient during Speech at the University of Southern California

Says Clinton’s Release of Strategic Reserves Is “Shortsighted and Politically Driven”

(Los Angeles, CA) Calling Bill Clinton’s decision to draw upon U.S. oil reserves “shortsighted and politically driven,” John Hagelin announced today his own comprehensive plan to make the United States energy self-sufficient within five years.

Hagelin, a Harvard-trained nuclear physicist and the Natural Law Party/Independent Coalition Party presidential candidate, presented his plan during a speech to 400 students at the Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California.

Hagelin called for a “bold national commitment” to energy conservation as well as the development of new energy sources, such as wind, solar, and biomass—“which could be cost-competitive now, if government stopped subsidizing fossil fuels.”

“After fostering our addiction to fossil fuels and foreign oil through subsidies and tax breaks for the oil industry, Clinton and Al Gore are now seeking to rescue voters from the high costs of heating oil and gasoline caused by that addiction,” Hagelin told the students.

“Energy conservation and development of renewable energy resources initiated during the Carter Administration have been ignored by subsequent administrations, and we continue to pay the price. Had the Reagan, Bush and Clinton/Gore administrations continued the progress, we could be energy self-sufficient today.”

Hagelin said that Clinton’s decision was politically motivated. “His proposed release of 30 million barrels from our strategic oil reserve is at best tokenism—the equivalent of less than two days of domestic oil consumption,” said Hagelin. “The issue of our energy dependence on foreign oil is far too important to play politics with.”

Hagelin said the crisis highlights the need for prevention-oriented, forward looking government—as opposed to the crisis management that has gripped Republican and Democratic administrations for years.

“Both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of hypocrisy. The Republicans have long called for exploiting our strategic reserves so that their oil baron friends could get their hands on cheap oil. Now that the Democrats are calling for it, the Republicans are crying foul. Also, Clinton, who has previously opposed use of our strategic reserves, now suddenly wants to release them 46 days prior to a national election.

“We have enough domestic oil production to become energy self sufficient, when coupled with fuel-efficient vehicles, home insulation and other widely available conservation technologies, and with development of our abundant, clean renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal.”

“These alternative energy sources are cost-competitive now, especially when compared with the true cost of fossil fuels—including the health costs of air-born pollutants, the environmental costs of acid rain, and the military costs of fighting foreign wars on behalf of our oil companies. Our government has been subsidizing fossil fuel consumption with American’s income taxes, when they should have been promoting energy self-sufficiency.”

Highlights of John Hagelin’s Plan

• Support basic research on energy efficiency, energy storage (both for large- and small-scale applications), and fuel cells, in addition to electric, hydrogen, and highly energy-efficient vehicles.
• Provide financial incentives for homeowners and industry to use available energy-efficiency measures, such as insulation and compact fluorescent lighting.
• Set performance standards for energy-consuming and pollutant-emitting products in order to encourage adoption of state-of-the-art technologies and to protect responsible and innovative manufacturers from being undercut by those who produce cheaper but dirtier products. By increasing efficiency, the U.S. can significantly reduce energy consumption—with substantial economic and environmental benefits for the nation.
• Support the development of new energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biomass—which could be cost-competitive now if government stopped subsidizing fossil fuels. The Natural Law Party is committed to increasing the proportion of renewable, environmentally clean energy sources by the year 2004. To achieve these goals, the plan will:
• Remove federal subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Require that construction of new electrical power plants take into account all long-term costs to the nation, such as environmental protection and health costs.
• Progressively implement a tax on fossil fuels to reflect their real cost to the nation, including environmental cleanup, medical costs, and security costs in the Persian Gulf.