Appointed Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) has a perilous tightrope to walk in the upcoming Nevada senatorial election, now a close contest with Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV1). The Republican “energy policy” has mainly been about “Drill, Drill, and then Drill Some More,” which as most people know by now isn’t much of a solution. Senator Heller’s Road to Damascus Moment [LV Sun] wherein he notices that Nevada has plenty of sun, and an ample amount of wind, doesn’t completely obscure his voting record on advanced energy technology and alternative energy sources.
For example, Heller had two shots at voting in favor of H.R. 6 (the Energy Act) in 2007, and voted “nay” both times. He also voted against H.R. 2776 and H.R. 3221, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. Representative Berkley voted in favor of these bills. [PVS] He voted against H.R. 5351 (Energy Law Amendments) on February 27, 2008, and against H.R. 6049 (Alternative Energy Tax Incentives) on May 21, 2008. [PVS] Representative Berkley voted in favor of these measures. [PVS]
On July 23, 2008 he did vote “yes” on H.R. 3221 (Housing Bill with Energy Tax Credit Extensions) and then voted “no” on H.R. 7060 (Renewable Energy Credits & other business and individual credits) on September 26, 2008. Congresswoman Berkley voted in favor of H.R. 7060. [PVS] The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1) which contained green energy and energy conservation programs got no support from then-Representative Heller in 2009. Nor did Representative Heller support the “Cash for Clunkers” bill to incentivize consumers to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles (H.R. 2751) on June 9, 2009. [PVS]
On September 16, 2010, Heller voted against H.R. 4785 which would have authorized loans for energy efficiency purposes. [PVS] Representative Berkley voted in favor of H.R. 4785. [PVS]
Given this voting record it is difficult to place Senator Heller among the choir of voices calling for energy conservation, energy technology, and alternative energy source development.
A less reflexive, and more reflective, energy policy should stand on three legs — (1) the promotion of future energy efficiency standards, (2) the encouragement of current energy conservation practices, and (3) the development of alternative sources of energy. Representative Berkley’s position on these three policy pillars has been far more substantial than Senator Heller’s.
Desert Beacon 