by General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.)

Energy infrastructure systems, including both generation and transmission, require massive amounts of new investment in the face of rising difficulty in locating, permitting, and building new infrastructure.  Industry estimates that it will take 10 years to license and construct a new nuclear plant in the United States.  Construction of numerous electricity transmission lines, natural gas terminals, and wind projects has been abandoned as a result of frustration and the inability to get siting approval.  This may require us to address new federal eminent domain issues.  Current regulatory uncertainty and liability issues discourage the development of clean energy alternatives and technologies.  Failure to reverse this course will imperil our global economic competitiveness.

Visit www.energyxxi.org and join the thousands of people urging the next president and 111th Congress to adopt key energy principles and commit America to a sensible, long-term energy plan.