Energy policy is a hot topic in U.S. Senate race

With gas prices rising to $4 per gallon, it’s perhaps no surprise that energy is the issue currently dominating New Mexico’s U.S. Senate race between Democrat Tom Udall and Republican Steve Pearce.

The Albuquerque Journal has an article today about the back-and-forth between the candidates on energy policy. On Wednesday, The Associated Press also had an article about the debate. Here’s some of what’s been happening:

• Pearce has challenged Udall to a formal debate on energy issues — but he did it in a news release, not a letter to his opponent. Udall says it’s too early, but there will be debates in the fall. Pearce has also pointed to a new survey that shows increasing public support for more energy exploration and drilling and building new power plants, while Udall and special-interest groups supporting him are focusing on conservation and renewable energy.

• Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is driving a Toyota Prius covered in Pearce-bashing paraphernalia around the state to help Udall, and plans to give the car away later this year. The League of Conservation Voters earlier this week added Pearce to its “Dirty Dozen” list, saying he “voted against New Mexico’s environment 79 out of 80 times.”

• The state Democratic Party has organized protests at gas stations in several cities across New Mexico to protest what it calls Pearce’s support for oil companies.

• Pearce has introduced a bill to allow more offshore drilling and drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while Udall, according to the Journal, opposes drilling in the refuge but believes off-shore sites should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Such political wrangling on energy issues is typical in races across the country this year, according to The Associated Press article. Meanwhile, many New Mexicans are getting fed up. The news service profiled Dana Hampton, and Alamogordo Republican who is considering both candidates and wants Congress to do something to bring down gas prices.

“Gas is killing us,” the news service quoted her as saying. “We can’t pay our bills. … We can barely feed our kids. Four dollars a gallon — are we serious?”

Bringing down the price of gas is something Pearce and Udall both say they want to do. Pearce says increasing drilling would be one of the quickest ways to reduce gas prices, while Udall says ending market speculation would drive the price down by a dollar a gallon, according to The Associated Press.