MANCHESTER -- Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jay Buckey proposed a National Security Levy on oil last week that would increase taxes on oil consumption to finance a program to increase the use of alternative energy..

"The National Security Levy will move us toward energy independence and secure the future of our country for our children," Buckey said.

According to Buckey, "the levy would be a fee on all oil consumption in the United States-combined with a price floor that guarantees oil will not sink below a certain price."

Buckey's plan would divert the money raised from the levy for a rebate to families "to compensate for the increased energy costs" and would also be used "to help finance an Apollo Program for Energy," whose goal would be to increase the use of alternative energy.

 "There's all kinds of things that we do in this country because we're looking towards the future and where we want to be, and this is just one of these things," he said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com.

Buckley, a Dartmouth Medical School professor who lives in Hanover, is trying to mount a serious challenge against the better financed and better known former three-term Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, of Madbury. The winner of the primary will likely face freshman U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu (R- Waterville Valley).

Buckey also argued that his plan would allow for an "uniquely American way to solve this problem."

"We don't necessarily want the government telling people what to do, rather it should direct things," he added.

The former astronaut said his campaign will focus around the issues of energy, increasing America's competitiveness in a global economy and decreasing the power of money in politics.