Posted on 04/20/2005 5:14:24 PM PDT by RWR8189
With Americans facing increasingly higher prices at the gas pump, it is more crucial than ever that we take steps to diversify our energy sources and curb our dependence on foreign oil.
The House of Representatives this week will take up an energy bill that will go a long way toward giving our nation the sound, comprehensive energy policy that our citizens need and deserve. Unfortunately, opponents are doing their best to obstruct America's prosperity.
The House has passed energy legislation three times. Each time it has been blocked for political sportsmanship. Meanwhile, Americans are finding it more and more expensive to drive their kids to little league practice or plan a family vacation. Heating bills have skyrocketed, leaving many of our elderly struggling to pay bills. And businesses, like florists, truck drivers and pizza delivery companies, are wondering how to handle the exorbitant cost of delivering goods to their customers.
The national average price of gasoline recently hit an all-time high of $2.28 a gallon. In recent weeks, oil prices jumped to almost $58 a barrel. Analysts forecast a higher spike to $60 soon.
In some parts of the country, like the West Coast, gas has crept to more than $2.50 for a gallon of unleaded.
This is unacceptable. America is in the midst of an energy crisis that threatens our long-term prosperity.
Let me be clear. Senate Democrats have blocked energy legislation for the last four years. In the time since, we've had blackouts in various parts of the country. The price of natural gas, which heats and cools our homes and businesses, hit an all-time high. Gasoline prices have hit an all-time high.
In fact, in the time since President Bush sent his National Energy Plan to Congress in 2001, the cost of a barrel of oil has doubled.
There's no question about it. America is too dependent on foreign oil. Most of it comes from volatile nations where supplies are often unpredictable. Developing nations like China and India are further squeezing the supply.
Currently, our nation sends more than $500 billion overseas (at today's prices) to import oil each year. Meanwhile, we completely ignore options to produce energy and jobs right here in the United States.
The legislation being considered by the House looks at alternatives, like increased production and use of ethanol, which is derived from grain and corn, as well as bio-diesel, which comes from natural renewable sources like soybeans.
These options are renewable, safe for the environment and important for family farmers and the economy.
These types of alternatives deserve a shot.
The future of American families depends on our ability to deal with our energy concerns now. It's time for a comprehensive energy plan that is energy efficient and environmentally friendly while bringing more alternatives to the market.
Parents will soon begin planning summer vacations with their children. High gas prices with no hope of a solution will dampen this summer's holiday. Congress owes it to Americans to end the political jockeying.
Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Jerry Nadler (D-NY) is the roadblock. Course he'd block many roads but...
Ethanol is a porkbarrel joke.
Biodiesel, on the other hand, makes sense...if we can make enough of it.
The Congress should act to remove any federal mandate for "Boutique Fuels", special formulations for individual states or municipalities, which greatly complicates the problems of refining and supply, increasing the cost of fuel for everybody. The sad thing is that these special fuels do little or nothing to prevent pollution, and actually cause more damage to the environment because they are spiked with all sorts of toxic additives that find their way into the groundwater or streams.
The sad story of Boutique Fuels is a classic example of policymaking gone awry. And rather than admit the error, Congress is insisting that we all poison ourselves, and spend a extra 20 cents a gallon for the priviledge.
I have to disagree. Illinois adds 15% ethanol to it's gas, and we've been running on it for years with no problems. It's cheap, it's renewable, and it helps corn farmers get rid of excess product.
If ethanol is cheaper, then why is it necessary that Congress mandates it's use? Are they smarter than the rest of us, or something. Does Congress know more about the Oil Bidness than all those fellas in the Oil Bidness?
Not to mention that in most places where ethanol is mandated for the sake of ethanol and not for "clean air" (which it doesn't provide), there is a pump that offers "regular" gas - FOR SMALL ENGINES!
Who's Dennis Hastert?
Are you kidding me?
Should I know him from somewhere?
There still ain't no free lunch.
Perhaps. But don't buy into the fiction that it takes more energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than it provides. Because that's amortizing all of the energy costs to what is, in fact, a by-product of the process (the primary purpose of which is making animal feed).
That said, the government subsidizing its production is a joke.
Two near-instant reforms are possible:
1. Eliminating so-called "boutique fuels", as you say.
2. Increasing refinery capacity (overcoming NIMBY concerns).
No argument. But at least it's useable now, and I think it's still a better option than gasohol efficiency-wise.
Ideally we'd be letting the market make the call. It will, anyway.
He's kind of an important guy...
Diesel exhaust that smells like french fries....ok.
Haven't fallen for that line yet. But I understand that it does take a lot more energy to produce ethanol than gas, at least considering energy output vs. production cost.
Nonetheless government shouldn't be subsidizing ANY of this stuff. Willie Green is right when he says that the government got us into this mess by subsidizing cars. However, the solution ain't more government tinkering by subsidizing trains, planes, or automobiles--it's getting government out of business as much as possible. Hybrids are taking off because the market decided. That will eventually be the model car more people buy, because Americans' petroleum costs are destined to go up and up with new global industrialization providing demand and fewer American refineries providing supply.
Really? What does he do?
I'm not sure exactly....
Something about being two heartbeats away from the presidency...
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