Hastings focuses on energy, job security

MOSES LAKE - Natural Resources Committee Chairman-elect Rep. Doc Hastings, R-4th District, said he wants to secure jobs, cut spending and explore national energy alternatives as part of his new duties.

Hastings will serve as chairman from 2011 through 2013, the third and fourth years of President Barack Obama's term.

The previous Natural Resources Committee had a Democratic majority, but the upcoming committee will put Republicans in the majority.

The political shift in the committee will have great impact on those who live in the fourth district, which covers several counties including Grant, Adams and Yakima counties, said Hastings.

"We will do things entirely opposite of what the Democratic majority did. The Obama Administration closed off essential public lands that can be used for energy development and the (Natural Resources) committee just sat on their hands," he said. "We're going to push some legislation and find exactly what are those reasons for locking out potential energy sites."

Hastings said he plans to continue his All-Of-The-Above energy plan as chairman.

The plan highlights such energy solutions as promoting alternative energy sources like wind and solar, expanding non-emitting nuclear power, protecting clean and renewable hydropower dams and drilling offshore in places like Alaska and federal lands, according to Hasting's Web site.

"I can assure you that any legislation introduced (limiting those goals) will go nowhere under my jurisdiction," he said. "It's in our best interest to promote these energy resources as best we can rather than focusing on one or two (energy sources)."

As part of its jurisdiction, the committee oversees all federal lands, including ones with potential for energy development, said Hastings.

He said residents living in the fourth district have a lot of hydropower potential, but there are public sites elsewhere that have coal and natural gas to use for energy.

The committee also has jurisdiction over federal dams and the Columbia Basin Project.

Hastings said the threat to US energy from foreign sources poses threats to economic and national security vitality.

"Energy jobs are very good-paying jobs and when we rely on foreign sources, it puts our economy at risk," he said.