Congressional hopeful offers energy plan

Republican congressional candidate Steve Greenberg of Long Grove released his eight-point energy plan Wednesday, saying voters deserve to know details about such an important issue.

Greenberg is trying to unseat two-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean of Barrington in the Nov. 4 election for the 8th Congressional District. The 8th District covers parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

Topping Greenberg's proposed energy plan is a call to lift Congress' ban on offshore drilling. He contends technological advances make it possible to pursue energy production off U.S. coastlines in an environmentally sensitive way.

Greenberg said his position supporting offshore drilling differs with Bean's.

An expansion of U.S. refinery capacity and allowing oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain would be other ways to provide Americans with relief at the gas pumps as part of a long-term energy policy, Greenberg said.

"You need to be detailed and finite and say, 'Here's what I'm going to do for the 8th District,'" said Greenberg, a former minor-league hockey player and businessman making his first stab at elected office.

Greenberg, 37, said he's been meeting would-be voters as part of 100 "meet-and-greet" efforts before Election Day, Nov. 4. He said energy is the issue he hears about most on the campaign trail.

In addition to offshore drilling and exploring part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Greenberg's plan suggests developing clean and dependable energy, expanding U.S. refining capacity, easing federal fuel-blend requirements, providing efficiency incentives, pursuing other American sources such as shale oil and investing in the future with a special trust fund.

In response to Greenberg's proposal, Bean spokesman Jonathan Lipman said the congresswoman has consistently called for a long-term energy plan that will reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil.

"She has advocated for a comprehensive policy that includes fuel efficiency, energy conservation, and an expansion of domestic energy options including nuclear, wind, solar, domestic oil production, clean coal, and renewable fuels," Lipman said.

Bean, 46, won her first 2-year seat by topping longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Phil Crane in 2004. She reiterated her stance against offshore drilling when she touched on energy issues Monday at an informal meeting with local officials from Lake County.

The United States should have a broad-based energy plan to include a variety of sources, Bean told the officials who gathered in Grayslake. She also said oil companies already have leases on 680 million acres.

"If you're going to drill, drill where you have the ability to drill instead of looking for it," Bean said.

• Daily Herald staff writers Mick Zawislak and Russell Lissau contributed to this report.