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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Recently, I met with my Third Congressional District Agriculture Advisory Committee in Kellyton, Alabama.
This volunteer group of farmers and agriculture business people from every county of the Third District helps advise me on the impact of Agricultural legislation. It also helps keep me informed on the concerns of this critical sector of East Alabama’s economy.
It’s safe to say these Alabamians know a thing or two about farming. They also know what it means to try and make a living in this brutal economy, and how our nation’s energy policies affect our jobs.
According to AAA, right now, the average price of gas in Alabama is $2.525. It’s up almost 50 cents since this time last year.
The fluctuation in gas prices is tough on everyone – our farmers, seniors on fixed incomes, families and our manufacturers. It’s another reminder of how important it is for our country to become more energy independent, so we’re less dependent on foreign countries when it comes to fueling our economy.
Agriculture, like other major drivers of Alabama’s economy, needs new alternative fuels, not just to power its heavy equipment, but also as a means to help create new industries and employment opportunities.
While Tuskegee and Auburn Universities are on the cutting edge of developing biofuels, more needs to be done.
For starters, Congress should support legislation that allows us to utilize energy resources that we have here at home. Things like off-shore oil drilling, the safe exploration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and continued development of our abundant natural gas resources are key in helping bridge the gap between the fuels of today and the biofuels of tomorrow.
With our nation’s unemployment rate over 10 percent, the debate about creating “green jobs” seems promising, as long as that debate includes the common sense energy-related jobs we could create – right here in East Alabama – using the resources our farmers already grow.
With critical research by Alabama’s universities, we can make our country’s dependence on foreign oil a thing of the past. Stable energy supplies will help strengthen our economy, encourage the private sector to invest and ultimately help create jobs.
What won’t help is Cap and Trade. This back door national energy tax would require most heavy manufacturers to buy carbon emissions allowances from the Federal government or on the open market.
In East Alabama and across our state, our electricity rates are already increasing due partly to the rising demand and cost of the transportation of coal which, like it or not, will remain the major source for power generation for years to come.
Our farmers and manufacturers agree – imposing this energy tax could drive the prices of all goods and services even higher, which in turn will do little to help our economy grow. It seems likely to send even more of our manufacturing jobs overseas to countries like China and India that do not impose similarly regressive policies.
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