Business | Oil & Gas
Ex-policymakers warn Congress over US energy crisis
A bipartisan group of 27 American elder statesmen is sending an open letter to both presidential candidates and every member of Congress saying the United States faces "a long-term energy crisis" that threatens the security and prosperity of future generations if swift action is not taken.
- AP
- Published: 08:27 July 16, 2008
Washington: A bipartisan group of 27 American elder statesmen is sending an open letter to both presidential candidates and every member of Congress saying the United States faces "a long-term energy crisis" that threatens the security and prosperity of future generations if swift action is not taken.
The group includes Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell and six other former secretaries of state or defence, former senators of both parties and a half-dozen former senior White House advisers and other Cabinet officers for both Republican and Democratic presidents.
"We must re-examine outdated and entrenched positions," the group says in the letter to be sent on Wednesday to the campaigns of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and to his Republican rival, John McCain, as well as members of Congress and all 50 governors.
"Foremost we must rise above a partisan differences and be united in our efforts," they wrote.
A copy of the letter was provided on Tuesday to The Associated Press.
The call to action comes amid widespread anger over high energy costs from $4-plus a gallon petrol to the certainty of record heating costs next winter and the prospect that America's energy priorities will have to be revamped in coming decades to deal with global warming.
The open letter was the idea of the Institute for 21st Century Energy, a group affiliated with the US Chamber of Commerce, which has embraced largely Republican, pro-business approaches to dealing with energy problems.
The chamber, for example, has called for expanding domestic energy development, including opening offshore areas long off-limits, and criticised new taxes on oil companies.
More from Oil & Gas
More from Business
Business Editor's choice
-
Saudi-Bahraini economic ties hit new high
Whilst press reports continue speculating on a possible new political structure defining ties between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, facts on the ground confirm ever- stronger economic ties between the two neighbours
-
Cupid targets the Fed with early tweets
Declarations range from pure romance to cute overtures and racier fare
-
Do unemployment figures flatter to deceive?
Jobseekers and recruiters give out mixed signals ranging from optimism to downright despair even as official data show recovery
