Issues: Energy, Alternatives, Nuclear Power
John believes that the United States is too dependent on oil and coal for its energy needs which has a negative impact on our environment as well as security implications in the case of oil. The federal government must invest more resources into alternative energy sources such as small scale hydro-electric, geo-thermal, solar, and wind. Businesses and homeowners should be encouraged to adopt these new technologies through additional tax credits. All new government construction must utilize some type of alternative energy source. Just adopting these new technologies would not be enough unless there is an aggressive program of conservation and public awareness which government at all levels should encourage through education. In addition greater emphasis should be made to encourage construction using eco-friendly building materials.
Nashville is one of the top ten carbon producing cities in the US (on a per capita basis). As a result Nashville's environment is one of the most stressed by pollution and would be most likely to benefit directly if the federal government adopted meaningful policies to reduce carbon emissions.
> Nuclear energy is NOT a clean technology and must be phased out. No nuclear power plants should be constructed in the United States, and those that are currently in operation should be retired within five years.
> The disposal of nuclear wastes remains a major problem nationally and specifically in Tennessee.
> We should not allow nuclear waste from other countries to be exported into Tennessee.
> Bio-Fuels are also not the answer. Valuable farmland is taken up with producing the raw materials for fuel as opposed to food.
> An over reliance on fossil fuels has made us vulnerable to high gas prices, disproportionately impacted the working poor.
> The rise in fuel prices has lead to higher food prices as the federal subsidies for agriculture often favor big agri-businesses while undermining small local farmers. As a result much of our food is transported from across the country or imported from other nations. While this impacts all Americans it has its greatest repercussions on the sectors of our population that are least able to afford it, the poor and those who are on fixed incomes.
