Mary Jo Kilroy Sets Goal of Producing Fleet of Alternative Fuel Cars by 2020

Press Release

Mary Jo Kilroy, Franklin County Commissioner and candidate for Congress in Ohio's 15th Congressional District, released an ambitious plan today that sets the goal of producing an American automotive fleet powered by alternative fuels by 2020. The plan would direct the federal government to increase research grants and tax incentives to the auto industry and to research facilities for the purpose of commercializing technologies such as second generation hybrids, bio-fuels and hydrogen fuel cells that promise to revolutionize transportation.

"America didn't set the goal of sending man halfway to the moon, it set the goal of going all the way," said Mary Jo. "We need to make this investment because it holds the promise of creating thousands of jobs here in Ohio, cheap energy alternatives for the future and ending our dependence on foreign oil."

The plan also includes short term and medium term solutions that would help ease consumer prices at the pump. Mary Jo's plan would force oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land the government currently leases to them that is being unused. If they don't use these lands, Mary Jo calls for those leases to end and put up for re-bid to companies who will. Mary Jo also calls for an end to the "Enron loophole" which prevents the government from regulating certain transactions on crude oil futures that are traded on foreign markets. According to some experts, up to 35% of the current price of gas has been directly caused by oil speculation.

"In the short term, we need to go after speculators that are currently bidding up oil futures far above what normal market forces are dictating. Speculators are squeezing middle class families at the pump," said Mary Jo. "We must be prepared to meet our energy needs in the near future, at a reasonable price, while we work towards our long term goal of energy independence. That is why we must drill on lands that oil companies aren't using and have the refining capacity to turn that oil into gasoline."

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