Issues

 

Energy

 

The Abboud Energy Platform

 

“American energy independence is the most critical element to our environmental, national and economic
security. I see the current energy crisis as an opportunity to return the United States to a position of leadership
in the research, design and manufacturing of energy solutions. Not only will my energy plan achieve American
energy independence in 10 years; the price of gasoline and diesel fuel will fall by 50 percent or more in 24
months after implementation.”

- Bob Abboud, Candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 16th District

 

American Energy Independence – Opportunity within a Crisis

Bob Abboud, a nuclear engineer, has been involved in electrical generation, energy solution research and design, utility, and power trading businesses for more than three decades. He has served for the US Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, the California Energy Commission, and on Vice President Al Gore’s Advanced Vehicle Commission as an energy policy expert. He served at Commonwealth Edison for 20 years in nuclear electric generation, research and design and power trading. Most recently, he founded an engineering company that develops a wide array of energy technologies for the production, storage and use of all forms of energy.

 

After the last oil crises and heavy price increase of the 1970’s America’s dependence on foreign oil has increased at an overwhelming pace, holding our foreign and economic policy hostage at the hands of foreign governments. What has emerged as the clearest truth in our struggle for energy independence is that diversity in the marketplace and a reduced emphasis on fossil fuels are our only answers to this problem. But this challenge is more an opportunity than a crisis. Our nation has the chance to remerge as a world leader in science, technology and alternative energy solutions. Together we can lead the world in the research, design and manufacturing of the world’s finest alternative energy solutions; and the 16th District can be at the vanguard of this new industry. The Abboud energy plan will achieve American energy independence within 10 years, reduce the price of gasoline and diesel by half or more in 24 months after implementation and create abundant, clean, safe and affordable energy.

 

The Current Debate

 

Since the price of gasoline surged over $4 a gallon, politicians and candidates across the country have been clamoring to claim the high ground on this issue. Unfortunately they have all been looking to score cheap political points instead of being honest with constituents. The current debate is circling around drilling, either offshore, in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or other shale locations within the United States. As an engineer,

Bob Abboud believes we can drill anywhere we like, given enough funding and time to take the necessary safety and environmental precautions. The question is what does offshore drilling get us?

 

The federal government estimates that the oil produced via offshore drilling won’t have any effect on the supply or oil or the marketplace until 2030. In addition, the United States doesn’t have an oil supply problem – we have a gasoline supply problem. Refining capacity is near 100 percent and the U.S. hasn’t build or modified an oil refinery since 1976. Finally, history has shown us that the only way to reduce pressure at the pump is to introduce the threat of a viable market alternative. In 1980, in the face of two Arab oil crises, Congress passed the Synthetic Fuels Corporation Act. The legislation created the U.S Synthetic Fuels Corporation which was designed to create competition for foreign sources of fuel – primarily with a new coal to liquid fuel process.

 

This legislation, combined with other factors, directly contributed to the collapse of the price of oil from around $38 a barrel to $8 a barrel from 1980 to 1985. A vast majority of the American people support more drilling, but it is nothing short of fraud for politicians and candidates to push the idea that drilling will reduce gas prices and relieve the pressure they are putting on our working families and businesses.

 

The Abboud Comprehensive Energy Plan

 

Energy is the lifeblood of our economy. And a robust and thriving economy is critical to our nation’s security. Bob Abboud’s energy plan takes a comprehensive approach to securing America’s energy, economic and environmental future. Bob’s plan addresses the immediate concerns of high gas prices and the long term goals of energy independence, climate control, the protection of our air, water and soil, and the increasing costs of energy for your home. Abboud’s Comprehensive Energy Plan will also put thousands of American’s back to work on vital infrastructure projects, grow American businesses and bring much needed economic development to the nation and the 16th District.

 

The Abboud Comprehensive Energy Plan will:

 


  1.   Reduce the price of gasoline and diesel fuel to $2 per gallon or less, within 24 months or less after implementation by creating true marketplace competition.
  2.   Achieve American energy independence within 10 years by reducing the amount of gasoline we consume by half.
  3.   Put thousands of Americans back to work on critical infrastructure projects and in the new, emerging energy industry.
 
4.
 
Re-establish American and the 16th District as a world leader in the research, design and manufacturing of new energy technologies and solutions.
 
5.
 
Support American auto-manufactures with sound energy policy, tax incentives and grants from current tax dollars to save jobs, protect American manufacturing, and help American car-makers return as the world leader in auto manufacturing.

 

Creating the American Power Authority

 

Sound energy policy and energy infrastructure requires long term strategic planning. Unfortunately, the current, unregulated free market does not support this type of planning and long term investment into capital projects like power generating plants and refineries where 40 year timelines are routinely required.

 

The American Power Authority (APA) will be an authority administered by the Federal Government, but funded by private capital. It will be structured in a similar fashion as that of the Illinois Power Agency, which Bob helped to create, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the authorities that built the great dams out west. As a public private partnership it will give emerging and established businesses and investors of all types the financial security and confidence to invest in longer term energy infrastructure projects. This will include, but not be limited to, the construction of new nuclear generating and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, solar and wind power material and component production as well as actual site construction, new electric grid infrastructure to better distribute power from new energy sources, new oil refineries to increase the supply of gasoline/diesel fuels, and bio-diesel and ethanol production plants. The APA will also support the development of new energy technologies, some of which we haven’t even thought of yet. Finally, the American Power Authority will require no tax increases.

 

The American Power Authority will:

  1.   Construct 100 new next generation nuclear power stations and supporting fuel management facilities. In addition it will build 3000 miles of new high voltage transmission to reinforce our ailing national electric grid, substantially reduce electric prices to home owners and businesses, and provide the necessary generation to support mass introduction of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Large scale construction radically reduces the costs of these facilities and significantly reduces the construction lead times.
  2.   Build new oil refineries, ethanol, bio-diesel and other distillate fuel production and investigate new sources of domestic shale and other heavy oils to create more market diversity to reduce the price of gasoline.
  3.   Create opportunities, through tax breaks and grant programs, for new, independently owned energy producing businesses to grow our economy and break the current monopoly big oil companies have on the marketplace.
  4.   Make significant investments in solar, wind, geothermal, hydro-electric and other energy solutions to establish the United States as a world leader in this new industry.
  5.   Put thousand upon thousands of Americans to work building these new plants and infrastructure.
  6.   Encourage private investment in this sector of the new economy, securing America’s energy independent future.

 

Protecting America’s Strategic Manufacturing, Supporting the American Auto Industry

 

Bob Abboud has served on the California Energy Commission and on then Vice President Al Gore’s Advanced Vehicle Commission as an energy policy expert. The energy industry, legislators, scientists and auto industry leaders all played a role on each commission. What Bob learned from leaders from the major U.S. car makers was that they need federal support and direction to remain competitive in the world auto-market. Bob proposes that we allocated a certain percentage of revenue generated by the current federal gas tax that is not being utilized for vital infrastructure maintenance and construction. Current Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters has said on more than one occasion that anywhere from 10 – 15 percent of the $30 billion generated annually by this tax is wasted on member pet projects like indicted Alaskan Senator Ted Steven’s ‘Bridge to Nowhere.’


Bob believes that plug-in hybrid cars are the future and the auto-market agrees. Current hybrid cars, while not plug-in hybrid, are very popular amongst consumers and currently carry enough capacity on their batteries for about 35 miles of driving. If all vehicles in the U.S. had the capability to pick-up the first 35 miles of driving from the electric grid, we would reduce the amount of oil we use annually by half, and be driving those first 35 miles at the equivalent of 70 cents a gallon. As new battery technology improves and the range of these systems increase, the cost of these vehicles will drop significantly. With clear policy direction U.S. American automakers can make plug-in hybrid technology as affordable and standard as seatbelts and anti-lock breaks. Bob’s Plan to Support the American Auto Industry will:

 

  1.   Safeguard America’s most strategic and vital manufacturing component, create thousands of jobs and return American car makers to their rightful places as pioneers and leaders of the car manufacturing industry.
  2.   Invest at least $1.5 billion of current, wasted American tax dollars to support American car makers and make plug-in hybrid technology as affordable and standard as seatbelts and anti-lock breaks.
  3.   Create thousands of jobs, secure one of America’s most vital manufacturing industries and help grow our economy.
  4.   Reduce the amount of oil the U.S. uses by half – putting us that much closer to American energy independence.
  5.   Ensure we lose no vehicle performance and American cars remain powerful and fun to drive to continue meeting the demands of the American car owner.
  6.   Help give American auto companies a new competitive edge in the global market.
  7.   Significantly reduce the emission of dangerous greenhouse gasses to protect our environment for generations to come.

 

It’s About Planning for the Future…

 

The Abboud Comprehensive Energy Plan is not a pie in the sky idea or a quick fix that will only have us addressing today’s challenges, again, tomorrow. Bob Abboud’s plan addresses solves our problem once and for all, creating a mechanism for strategic future planning and the flexibility America needs to stay ahead of future energy problems. Bob Abboud’s energy plan will achieve American energy independence by investing in American companies. The Abboud energy plan confronts our energy crisis head-on, turning what would otherwise be a disaster into an incredible opportunity for America to emerge as a world leader in the most important technological industry of the modern age. Let’s put America First… for a Change. If you any specific questions about The Abboud Comprehensive Energy Plan, please don’t hesitate to contact our campaign office.

 

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