Candidates offer Views on Oil

From the Albuquerque Journal North:

'"We are not going to drill our way to success and we are not going to conserve our way to success," said Santa Fe attorney Marco Gonzales, a Republican. "It will take a little of both."'

"His Republican opponent, Rio Rancho contractor Dan East, advocates increased energy exploration and new refineries. While Congress has little oversight over a controversial proposal to drill for oil and gas on the Galisteo Basin south of Santa Fe, East said he could support such a project if it were environmentally sound."

"Don Wiviott, a self-described green developer in Santa Fe, praised Congress for halting shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a move Wiviott said would increase supply and help reduce gas prices in the short term.
"Still, this legislation is a far cry from the long-term solution our country needs in order to ease the pain Americans are feeling at the pump," Wiviott said.
Wiviott called for an end to tax breaks to oil companies, higher fuel-efficiency standards and incentives for new automobiles and fuels, such as plug-in hybrids and algae-based biofuels."

"Harry Montoya wants to eliminate oil company tax breaks and encourage the development of ethanol by providing loan guarantees for new ethanol manufacturing plants. Doing so would be good for the environment, national security and the economy, the Santa Fe County Commissioner said."

"Dixon attorney Rudy Martin believes gas prices "are being artificially manipulated by producers and speculators to increase profits."
The candidate would order investigations, and if it was found that oil companies were fixing prices, Martin would vote to cut off their subsidies."

"A consumer would not be able to purchase a new car that gets less than 35 miles to the gallon if Santa Fe attorney Jon Adams has his way.
"The new Honda Civic and many other cars get this kind of gas mileage through more efficient engines and body design," Adams said. Adams would also prohibit price gouging and require that the federal government use only clean and renewable energy."

"Former state Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo Jr. believes gas prices are a symptom of soaring global energy demands.
"The answer is not in fiddling with gas prices while the world literally burns," Shendo said. The solution is investment in clean, green energy that New Mexico is uniquely poised to contribute to and benefit from, he said."

"Lujan, a Public Regulation Commissioner, says the Federal Trade Commission should investigate manipulative practices. He also said that the Small Business Administration can help develop renewable energy by providing grants, low interest loans and business counseling.
But gas prices will continue to be at the mercy of global markets, he said, until the U.S. weans itself off its dependence of foreign oil."