In Article I, Section 8, the United States Constitution grants Congress the “Power To,” among other things, “provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States”; “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations”; and “lay and collect Taxes.”

While the Constitution does not speak directly about “establishing an energy policy,” the need for an energy policy is certainly implied by the powers over defense, general welfare, commerce with foreign nationals, and the laying and collecting of taxes.

Four years ago, in May 2007, the major issues in the presidential campaign were the war in Iraq and a decelerating economy. A year …