Bill Foster lays out his energy plan

Other Dems also support investment in alternative fuels

Congressional candidate Bill Foster has released an energy plan he says will solve America's short- and long-term needs.

Foster, a St. Charles scientist who formerly worked at Fermilab in Batavia, is one of four Democrats running to replace Rep. Dennis Hastert in the 14th Congressional District.

Foster has touted his experience in both science and business. He and his brother started Electronic Theater Controls Inc., a multimillion-dollar company that manufactures theatrical lighting, when he was just 19 years old.

Foster believes his energy plan (available at www.foster08.com) draws on both backgrounds, and is both economically sound and environmentally conscious. He calls for more resources to be pumped into alternative energy research and conservation policies, and advocates the long-term development of biofuels.

He also wants the U.S. to lead the world in environmental responsibility, a goal Foster said can be influenced by who Americans elect.

"You start by not walking away from things like the Kyoto agreement," he said, referencing the 1997 global warming agreement objected to by the Bush administration. "That wouldn't have made a big dent, but as a political symbol and a first step, it was important."

Foster called for stricter standards (which he called "tough love") on automobile emissions, more research into carbon capture, geothermal and thermo-solar energy, and investment in biofuels other than ethanol, in anticipation of the bubble bursting on the corn-based fuel.

He also would like a full accounting of the cost of nuclear energy, including waste disposal, transportation and depreciation of real estate.

Foster is unlikely to draw much fire from his fellow Democrats on this issue.

Geneva businessman Jotham Stein was the first candidate to release an energy policy. His calls for tax credits for producing and using alternative energy, implementing federal energy-efficiency standards for all products and reducing dependence on foreign oil through conservation.

Like Foster, Stein believes that global warming is an imminent threat, and he's released a 10-point plan to combat it on his Web site, www.votestein.com.

Joe Serra, of Geneva, said he agrees with Foster's proposals and would like to see the U.S. focus on renewable energy. Serra specifically mentioned wind energy, photovoltaic and solar energy, and he suggested taking a second look at nuclear energy as well. And, like Foster and Stein, Serra supports signing the Kyoto Protocol.

John Laesch, of Yorkville, said he supports the carbon-free and nuclear-free plan put forth by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research at www.ieer.org. He said that while he is in agreement with Foster on several points, he disagrees that money should go to more research. Laesch believes the technology for environmentally conscious energy is already available.

Instead, he said, consumers should be given incentives to buy electric and hybrid cars, solar panels and wind turbines, or to hook up to public power grids. And Laesch said the government could easily afford such subsidies by reordering some priorities.

"The current price tag for the Iraq war, $1.5 trillion, could have covered the cost of a $20,000 investment for every American family to buy solar panels, wind generators or better insulate their homes," he said.