What's Your Energy Wish This Year

December 15, 2014

A few wishes from our veterans... (whose opinions are their own). 

I wish for the American voter and the petroleum industry to get a clear message from the current Administration in Washington.  It looks to me like our politicians are not interested in helping us....  plain and simple!  It's all about control! They are in charge and we are not!  It would be so easy to obtain and use our own resources and be free from outside influence as to our energy needs.  Can anyone tell me what the military mission of this country is?  Why are we in the Middle East and what is our outcome strategy and goal? 
James P., Vets4Energy, Michigan (USA)

My wish would be that all Americans realize that it makes little sense to import oil from foreign nations that at best do not share America's values and interests and at worst, may seek to destroy our way of life.  I hope they would support importing oil from a friendly border nation that is also our largest trading partner.
Gary W., Vets4Energy, Iowa (USA)

We are all energy dependent.  I wish that the powers at be in Washington would understand that the exploration  and development of our natural resources are of utmost importance to our economy and national security.  Even Santa needs coal.
Robert G., Vets4Energy, North Carolina (USCG)

I wish that the American people would understand that our national security is based on energy independence and fiscal responsibility.  Energy independence is gained by putting people to work in energy related fields, by cutting ties to foreign oil-producing, and by determining our own destiny.  American people need to understand that the strength of our nation is and always has been a free and independent people, and that means free and independent of the hindering requirements of oil rich foreign nations who can dictate terms to us.
Roma A., Vets4Energy, Nebraska (USARNG)

I wish we could get partisanship out of policy discussions on energy issues and make policy decisions in D.C. in the best interest of the country with regard to the nations' energy future.
Bill H., Vets4Energy, Florida (USAF)

I would want the American people to understand that hydraulic fracturing can be and is done safely and responsibly.  My constant worry about our energy policy is the effect on national security. We have for years been held hostage to the whims of OPEC.  We need a constant and reliable source of crude oil to keep our airplanes flying, ships out of port, military vehicles running, for both training and actual missions.  We have enough oil and natural gas in North America to satisfy these needs for many years if we would just open the offshore drilling and complete the Keystone XL Pipeline.  Semper Fi. 
Paul C., Vets4Energy, New Hampshire (USMC)

I wish the American people would try to understand the importance of what  available and affordable sources of energy means not only to our economy and our own personal futures but also to our security and freedom.
James M., Vets4Energy, Montana (USA)

My wish is to utilize the resources our country has been blessed with, to become energy Independent and less dependent on foreign sources who may or may not be our friends that can turn off the flow of oil without notice.
   * It seems to me with the volatile nature of the Middle East and groups like ISIS and Al Qaida growing, we must realize that leaders can change overnight in some of these oil rich countries.  We must not wait until the last minute to take the necessary steps to be capable of operating without oil from the Middle East.
   * Energy Independence is not only economically intelligent, it's strategically important for our National Defense.
James M., Vets4Energy, West Virginia (USA)

My wish would be for the US to promote and produce oil and gas from North America sources: Canada, USA and Mexico.  That would end the price and production hassles with countries less supportive of US interests.
George W., Vets4Energy, Alaska (USMC)

I would wish that the American people could understand that this great nation is undergoing a transformation from an energy dependent state to an energy exporting state.  This is happening not only because we are producing great amount of oil from all the new oil fields but also because we are incorporating all forms of energy production not just fossil fuels.  It is this mix that helps us along this path to a greater and stable nation.
Carl E., Vets4Energy, North Dakota (USA)

Energy is essential to our way of life and standard of living.   Without energy from multiple sources, we resign ourselves to regress back to the horse-and-buggy days and utter defenselessness.
Bill E., Vets4Energy, Nebraska (USAF)

I wish that there was a better understanding across the country that we are a fossil fuel dependent nation for years to come:  transportation sector - land, air, rail; industry and manufacturing sector; shipping; the military and national defense; and on and on. We certainly must invest in and pursue renewable sources of energy, but availability, technological feasibility, and economic viability in replacing fossil fuels is on a pretty far horizon and simply will not be ready for many years to replace our dependence on fossil fuels. I wish there was a more universally accepted understanding of these facts, and as a result, a more comprehensive approach to maximizing our own oil and gas resources.
Bill H., Vets4Energy, Florida (USAF)

My Energy Wish is to have the Keystone XL Pipeline finally approved and get New York added to the states that allow Hydraulic Fracturing.   Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday season and enjoys themselves as well.  Go Army, Beat Navy!
Charles G., Vets4Energy, New York (USA).

If I could get the American people to better understand one thing about energy, it would be the tremendous political, financial and strategic importance of energy production.  This leads to the dissemination of false but damaging information about America's energy production, particularly natural gas and oil, by those acting on behalf of foreign energy producers ("Gasland" was supported by Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates funded "Promised Land" with Matt Daemon, and Russia's fingerprints are all over the anti-fracing movement).  We all want a clean environment, but when Americans believe and act on the false hyperbole of these foreign energy producers, they are not helping America.  Their actions are instead benefitting foreign entities who desire to weaken America economically and politically or who simply want to maintain a large portion of the American market share of energy sales.  The Cold War era Soviets called these Americans who were manipulated by Soviet propaganda to work against the interests of America, "Useful Idiots."  Russia and other foreign energy producers are using the same tactics today.  They mis-inform well meaning Americans (this would include many in the media) to act against America's self interest.  There is nothing that would help America more economically and strategically than a vibrant energy sector, and nothing would harm America more than a crippled energy sector, brought on by the mis-guided demands of a mis-informed citizenry.
Anthony C., Vets4Energy, Pennsylvania (PA ANG)

 
If I could get the American people to better understand one thing about energy it would be that with pro-energy policies, we as a nation could quickly become energy independent and thus not dependent on unstable suppliers.  This would also help keep the US Dollar as the  currency relied on in international oil markets. AND importantly obviate the necessity for sending our military men and women to distant and dangerous lands to protect our sources of oil.
Bill S., Vets4Energy, South Carolina (USN)

I would want the American people to understand that hydraulic fracturing can be and is done safely and responsibly.
Tom M., Vets4Energy, Colorado (USA)