Straight Talk With Sam - Energy Bill A Priority

Volume 4, Issue 49 November 29, 2004

STRAIGHT TALK WITH SAM
Energy Bill A Priority

When the 109th Congress convenes in January several priorities will compete for its' attention. For the last four years we have talked about the need for an energy policy in this country. Since then America's energy problems have not gotten better.

Currently the United States depends on foreign countries for over 50% of our oil.

This reliance has national security implications as well, because most of those countries are in the Middle East. We need a national energy policy now more than ever.

Any plan should begin with conservation. We need to encourage new technologies such as fuel cells as well as helping to develop solar and wind power as viable energy sources.

We will not be able to solve our problem through conservation alone.

We must continue to explore for more oil reserves here in America. The U.S. Geological survey estimates that there are between 5.7 billion and 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil in Alaska's coastal plain. New technology allows us to recover that oil with minimal disturbance to the surrounding area.

Finally we need an energy bill that incorporates renewable fuels from right here in Missouri. Bio-diesel and Ethanol can help solve our energy crisis. In addition it would help create 8,000 new jobs by adding farmer-owned plants.

Renewable fuels are good for the environment, good for consumers and good for farmers. I have pushed for these provisions in the past and when I return to Washington I will continue to fight for them.