Report from Washington: Keeping a Focus on Energy

Statement

Report from Washington: Keeping a Focus on Energy

In these tough economic times across East Alabama, folks are watching their spending and pinching their pennies month to month.

Of course, that's nothing new for us. Long ago, skyrocketing gas prices forced painful decisions at home and at work. It's those painful days at the pump that Congress must not forget.

According to AAA this week, the current average of regular gas for Alabama is $1.91, which is up eight cents from last week and 13 cents from last month. That's a lot better than the $3.19 a gallon this time last year, but it's still too high and it's likely to go up higher.

That's why energy must remain an important issue for our country - from energy independence to alternative energy development.

We must also acknowledge weaning ourselves off foreign oil and continuing research and development of alternative energies is a marathon, not a sprint.

This week, President Obama helped focus the nation on the pressing need for a new energy policy. "We can remain the world's leading importer of foreign oil, or we can become the world's leading exporter of renewable energy," he said in a March 24, 2009 Associated Press article.

He's right. With the agriculture sector the largest in our state, energy legislation has the potential to positively impact Alabama's farmers.

Development of bio-mass and other renewable fuels could create a new outlet for many of our products and byproducts. That's just common sense - good for our economy and good for working families. Congress needs to get it done.

Of course, the devil is in the details. Much of the debate this week about new energy initiatives have been coupled with proposed climate-change legislation that would limit, or cap, the emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Instead of focusing too closely on cap-and-trade, which is a controversial proposal I'm concerned would hurt families and businesses by raising the price of most goods and services, Congress should invest in renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydrogen and bio-mass and efforts to increase domestic energy production.

East Alabama's cutting edge institutions like Auburn University and Tuskegee University are up to the task. So are Alabama's auto manufacturers, which are working hard to bring to market efficient new vehicles that run on a variety of fuels.

Congress can't forget nuclear power either. Done right, modern nuclear power could be the ultimate renewable energy source for our nation. Nuclear is also a solution in the climate change debate, since it emits little carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

These common sense solutions could not only help wean our country off foreign oil, but could help make our county energy independent once and for all. That's something everyone can support. Please contact me at www.house.gov/mike-rogers.

Source