Striving for Our Nation's Security

June 25, 2011

America’s energy, economic and national security are becoming increasingly intertwined.   American citizens and soldiers do not need to look further than the events in the Middle East to appreciate the importance of being in greater control of our energy resources – from battles in the past years to the recent rise in gas prices.

America’s need for energy is growing, and we need to create policies that encourage energy efficiency, conservation and development of all energy resources – including oil and natural gas.

We have rich sources of oil and natural gas on our domestic lands – both onshore and offshore – that we cannot currently access.  Furthermore, we have a potential pipeline that can be built to cost-effectively increase the amount of oil we can obtain from a friendly neighbor in Canada – but the approval decision for this pipeline is being stalled.

These decisions to increase our oil and natural gas supplies within our North American borders can also create jobs and revenue at a time when our economy needs to be put on a sure footing.   Our policymakers can make decisions immediately that will increase our energy, economic and national security.

As a veteran of the Iraq war, I especially appreciate the need for America to protect its national interests, which is why I have volunteered to be the State Chairman of the Georgia Energy Forum.  It is our goal to join with fellow Georgians to educate our elected officials on the importance of energy and the need to develop balanced energy policies.  We believe in the development of all sources of energy, but especially the oil and natural gas resources that we will rely on for decades to come.

Please join me and our Georgia Energy Forum so together we can make a difference.

Brett Grayson
Georgia Energy Forum State Chairman