Rep. Whitfield speaks at a rally in support of Kentucky's coal industry.

I believe that America must develop an ‘All of the Above’ energy strategy that responsibly develops and uses the sources of energy available in America. While President Obama also says he supports an all of the above energy policy, he says one thing and then does completely the opposite. Take for the example the President’s Climate Action Plan, this effort prohibits the building of a new coal fired power plant and stands to shutter current operating power plants, dramatically impacting the price of electricity, reliability, and our ability to compete in the global market place. I believe any energy  strategy should include Kentucky coal, domestic oil reserves, natural gas, nuclear power and hydroelectricity as well as wind, solar and other renewable forms of electricity. However, with electricity demand expected to increase 30 percent growth by 2035, the United States simply cannot rely on renewables such as wind and solar alone as the President would like to do.

As the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, I will continue to advance an ‘All of the Above’ energy strategy that will employ Kentuckians and address domestic energy demands without unnecessary government regulation that results in higher energy prices, delayed resource exploration or stunted job growth. I was pleased that the House of Representatives considered and passed my bill the Energy Security and Affordability Act. This bill reins in President Obama’s radical Climate Action Plan by ensuring that any regulation for new power plants are actually achievable and allows Congress, not the President, to set the effective date for regulations on currently operating (or existing) power plants.  Through my subcommittee, I urge the United States Senate to act quickly on this important legislation.  Unfortunately, we’ve already seen how Senate Leader Harry Reid has stopped any action to protect jobs and affordable energy when Senator McConnell tried to force a vote on this issue earlier this year.

I plan to examine all proposed regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will drive up energy costs and issues related to electricity transmission, nuclear power and responsible domestic resource development.

Kentucky Coal

The United States has abundant coal reserves for the next 250 years and much of that supply is found in Kentucky. Kentucky’s coal industry contributes more than $3.5 billion to the State’s economy and employs more than 17,900 miners. For every one job created by Kentucky’s coal industry, that job supports three others in the community.

Kentucky, and the First Congressional District in particular, has a long and proud history associated with the production of coal, and I will continue to be a leader in the development and responsible use of new coal technologies and innovations.

Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant

In 2013, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which was the last remaining domestically owned enrichment plant, closed its doors. Prior to its closing, this facility was extended for one year by the Department of Energy (DOE) at the behest of Senators McConnell, Paul and I, prolonging 1,200 jobs and saving the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Now that the facility is closed, the Kentucky delegation is working diligently to persuade DOE to clean up the site as a whole and specifically the gaseous diffusion plant as quickly as possible. In Fiscal Year 2014, we secured $324 million for the site much of which will be used to start the deactivation of the gaseous diffusion plant.

I was also pleased that we were also able to persuade DOE to utilize the remaining depleted uranium tails for economic development in Paducah, resulting in current ongoing negotiations between DOE and General Electric Hitachi. This effort envisions using the tails to build a new laser enrichment plant, creating many construction and permanent jobs in the future.

I am committed to ensuring that the cleanup being conducted at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is completed and to working with local community and industry officials to redevelop the area. As part of this redevelopment, I have worked to assure that the resources on the site, such as the stockpile uranium, nickel, and other metals can be productively used to generate funds for environmental cleanup and for the community to reindustrialize this area and retain and create jobs. I am a proud representative of the workforce at the Paducah plant that has helped provide for the nation’s energy and defense needs for more than fifty years.