I have a new candidate for Rod's favorite Senator – Senator Mike Enzi

I will admit that I am rather fickle when it comes to picking favorite politicians. I also tend to be focused on a single issue; if the politician recognizes the importance of energy in the American economy, they have a shot at my good side. If they understand just how clean, safe, and economical nuclear power can be they are getting really close. If they recognize that uranium makes great fuel for ships – they would get my vote if I lived in their district. Sorry, that is just the way I am. You get to pick your own method of choosing a politician.
(Grin, please. That is a joke. I really am a bit deeper than that).

Senator Mike Enzi R-Wyo has earned my attention by way of an interesting article titled Enzi: Coal will still be king. When I saw the title, I thought it might be a great opportunity for my next Smoking Gun comment where I showcase anti-nuclear commentary from fossil fuel supporters. Fortunately, I might have been wrong. Here is what Senator Enzi has to say about how energy resources affect his state and the nation:

There’s no fuel like an old fuel, so coal will remain the dominant energy source for the United States for the foreseeable future, U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi said Wednesday.

But Wyoming’s greatest energy resource — and innovative ways to develop it — receives cursory respect at best in what Enzi dubbed the “anti-energy” bill before Congress, he told the Casper Lions Club. Enzi’s speech touched on what Congress has, or rather, has not accomplished in relation to immigration, health care, Head Start, the budget and earmarks, and of course politics.

He later expressed optimism for a resurgence of nuclear power, which also would be good for Wyoming because of its uranium ore deposits.

In the short run, however, the House will consider the Senate’s version of an energy bill when Congress reconvenes later this month.

Enzi had criticized the bill for not providing incentives for coal-to-liquid technology of converting coal into diesel or other fuels and not providing incentives for clean-coal initiatives.

He repeated those comments on Wednesday with warnings about market effects, adding American ingenuity will find ways to resolve energy shortages. “We’ve used innovation; we can do that with energy,” he said.

The bill restricts supplies of some energy sources, which will drive up gasoline prices, Enzi said.

Natural gas, while a clean fuel, can’t be relied on for long-term electrical generation because of market uncertainties that will drive up prices, especially for residential heating, he said later at a meeting with the Casper Star-Tribune’s editorial board.

However, uranium’s future looks good, Enzi said.

“I see a pretty bright future for it,” he said.

I think this guy deserves some attention and perhaps even some support. I will have to do some more research, but I am thinking that my opinion is going to be favorable. I especially like this quote from later in the article:

Likewise, lots of submarines and ships have their own portable nuclear power plants and operate safely, Enzi said.

Too bad Senatorial races are limited to state residents and I have not yet visited Wyoming.