It is generally agreed that energy Independence is critical not only to our economic future but to our national security.

It has been fascinating to watch how Mr. Boucher often votes (or speaks) directly BEFORE an election … regardless of the issue … and then to see his position change almost immediately AFTER the election.  (For example, see the category Kuwait/Iraq War).

On energy, Mr. Boucher voted FOR tax breaks and incentives for oil companies (on 7/28/05) in what supporters said was an effort to spur oil and gas companies to provide innovative ways to REDUCE the nation’s DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL, conserve resources and reduce pollution.  On 1/18/07, with the new Democrat Congress in place, Mr. Boucher voted YES to HR 6 which, among other things, would REPEAL tax cuts for oil companies and mandate that they pay a fee to remove oil from the Gulf of Mexico.  Critics, however, said it actually would decrease domestic oil production so the country would RELY MORE HEAVILY on IMPORTED oil.

Mr. Boucher has voted NO to nuclear power (’92), NO to ethanol (’92), No to any new refineries (10/7/05), NO to drilling in ANWR (3 times, the last 8/2/01), and No to off-shore drilling (5/18/06).

Well, where do we go from there?

(There was a “window dressing” vote on off-shore drilling shortly BEFORE  the ’08 election [9/16 ] and ANWR [7/08] so that candidates could claim a vote FOR the issues.  The restrictions, however, made both measures almost absurd).

Then, this past summer (in an election year!), he was on an oilsands (“dirty oil”) fact finding mission in Alberta, Canada.  Boucher is chair of the energy and air quality subcommittee.  He toured the Albian Sands mine near Fort McMurray and met with oil industry officials in Calgary.  He had also visited a carbon dioxide capture and storage project in Weyburn, Sask.

As background, the use of oilsands (dirty oil) has come under fire in the United States and an advisor to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama questioned the country’s use of “dirty oil”.  Also, in June of 2008, U.S. Mayors passed a resolution calling on cities to ban the purchase of energy from unconventional sources, including oilsands, for their municipal fleets because they say it produces three times the carbon emissions it takes to produce conventional oil.

Anyway, (after again considering Boucher’s persistent track record over many years of  “NO”  votes to drilling for oil, refineries, offshore drilling, etc., etc. which has increased our dependence on foreign oil thereby threatening our economic security),  our Congressman finally (again in an election year) uttered this “profound” proclamation:  “Much of our money is being exported today to Saudi Arabia, and to the Middle East, and to places where the diplomatic goals are contrary to our own in many cases.”

Really?   Duh.

He then said that it’s important that we purchase ever-increasing volumes of oil from Canada.  Oh well, we will probably have to wait until AFTER the ’08 election to discover the truth about what Mr. Boucher really believes .  

On 5/27/93, he DID vote FOR establishing fuel and energy excise TAXES on all petroleum products, natural gas, coal, electricity and raises on GASOLINE Tax and DIESEL TAX.   (Along with that, he voted FOR limiting discretionary spending for DEFENSE DEPARTMENT for “the next five years”).

The reality is that Mr. Boucher pays lip service to wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, small irrigation power, landfill gas, trash combustion, hydropower, marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy facilities.  He also knows that clean coal, and especially liquid coal, is many years away in the U.S.   All alternative energy sources are certainly worth the investment for possible future solutions to the energy crises.

Like it or not, however, if we had started drilling in ANWR the first time it was voted on - or the second or the third – U.S. oil would be flowing freely while we seek alternative energy methods.  Also, nuclear power could have already been established.  We could have ALREADY freed our dependence on foreign oil and been more energy independent and secure. 

Oh well, perhaps twenty years from now Mr. Boucher will still be telling us “how good it’s going to be” while he continues to secure his own power status in Washington.

You be the judge.