Kinky Releases Energy Policy Statement

Yesterday, Kinky Friedman released his policy statement for an energy plan for Texas. It's an ambitious plan that offers rewards for Texans in the form of less energy independence and lower prices.

Kinky says, "Texas was once the world's leading energy producer, and until 1994, we were exporting energy. But today, we're paying for it. We have the resources to be self-sufficient. We have enormous solar, wind and biofuel capabilities. What we lack is leadership. Today, our capacity to generate energy from wind, solar and biofuel sources is 400 times greater than the amount we're currently using. Renewable energy sources can be found in every corner of the Lone Star State. Why aren't we tapping into them?"

Kinky wants to institute a "20% by 2020" plan. This means that Texas would be producing 20% of its electricity with renewable resources by the year 2020. Kinky would do this by:

1. Use of existing funds like the Texas Enterprise Fund and the Emerging Technology Fund.
2. Prioritizing government expenditures in renewable energy.
3. Providing economic incentives for the development and expansion of renewable energy programs.

Kinky believes the "20% by 2020" plan would help Texans by reducing current expenditures and generating new revenue. The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association says Texans could save $5.5 billion in electric bills while realizing a new $10 billion in capital investment. In addition, 40,000 new jobs would be created, pouring $900 million in new salaries into Texas. Kinky says this plan is not only achievable, but critical.

Kinky believes our current governor is owned by the lobbyists and special interest groups, and cites the proposed new coal plants as an example. He says, "Texas residents and small business owners have been paying a hefty price for electricity that only gets more and more expensive. The average Texan has seen power bills increase by more than 80% under the current administration. Texans have gotten dirty electricity from an administration all too willing to leap into bed with the entrenched power lobby at the expense of innovation."

Some other things Kinky would like to do are:

# - Discourage the construction of outdated coal-fired generating plants.

# - Encourage the construction of cleaner natural gas facilities.

# - Offer tax breaks to companies that reduce current pollution levels or retrofit their plant with gasification technology.

# - Crack down on polluters. Kinky says, "Under previous governors, it paid to break enviornmental laws. They viewed fines and penalties as a routine cost of doing business. Under my administration, polluters will pay dearly when they violate the law."

# - Explore the creation of a Texas Department of Energy. Kinky says, "Energy is too important to the people of Texas to leave in the hands of disparate agencies and bureaucracies. The department would be headed by Texans who are not beholden to special interests but are instead committed to looking out for taxpayers and meeting the future energy needs of this state."

Well, that is Kinky's program. It sounds like a reasonable and well-thought program to me, but then I'm prejudiced in favor of Kinky. What do you think?