WILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. GOVERNOR OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATE CAPITOL AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR CLEMENTS' POSITION ON ENERGY March 19, 1979 Thank you for your views on the need for leadership in solving the energy problem. We do indeed have an energy crisis, and we do not seem to have any policy of continuity. The only way we are going to solve the problem is to develop a program and produce more energy. I have repeatedly outlined my reconnendations in this area: First, the federal government should immediately unfetter and stimulate the exploration programs for both oil and gas in the United States. Second, we should increase coal production, and encourage gasification, liquification, pipeline slurries and raw coal conversions. At the same time, we need to speed up our nuclear plant construction which now is on dead center. It is also important that we move forward with research and development on the "exotic" energy sources, like geothermal and solar. However, no responsible person in the energy field believes that the exotics are going to make a significant impact on the production of energy before the year 2000. Finally, we must practice conservation, although that is a secondary issue and negative approach to the problem. I repeat: the primary goal is the production of more energy. Sirp.erely, William P. Clements, Jr. WPC:ce
