Luthi: Clinton and Trump lack broad-based energy policies

Fort+Worth+LogoFort Worth Star-Telegram | August 10, 2016 | Randall Luthi

Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have wasted little time in addressing energy policy this election.

In one of his first major policy speeches, Trump outlined a plan to expand traditional fuels, including an increase in the exploration of oil and gas.

Clinton, meanwhile, released a set of proposals for boosting renewable energy productionwhile drastically restricting the exploration and development of fossil fuels.

Such positions may win the nominees political points with their respective bases. But if this presidential campaign has proved anything so far, it’s that large segments of the American public feel they’ve been economically ignored.

A more broad-based energy policy — one that embraces the benefits of fossil fuels and renewables — would deliver abundant, affordable energy while creating thousands of jobs.

Within a few short years, America has become the world’s leading producer of both oil and natural gas.

Oil imports have dropped below 50 percent, gasoline prices have plummeted, and affordable natural gas has allowed manufacturers to compete in new world markets.

This increase in production has also spurred job growth.

Fracking alone now supports more than 2 million jobs around the country. While the industry has recently cut jobs due to the current global glut of oil, there’s hope for the future.

Pro-energy policies could create an additional 1.4 million jobs by 2030, according to energy industry consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.

By 2025, the average household could see its income rise by $3,500, thanks to such energy development.

Instead of recognizing the benefits of this growing industry, Clinton has so far sided firmly with the extreme environmental community.

She promised to ban drilling off the Atlantic coast, even though such projects would create 200,000 jobs by 2035.

Read the full op-ed here.

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