Hensarling Discusses Energy Alternatives

CANTON—Sharing his solutions to the high cost of energy, U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling visited with residents of Van Zandt County in two public talks in Canton and Grand Saline Tuesday morning.

"I think at a time of economic anxiety that the high cost of energy is the number one challenge…It affects everything," Hensarling said while visiting the group in Canton.

"I have just learned that here in Canton that the fire department has essentially gone through the entire annual budget just to pay for fuel costs," he said.

Hensarling further pointed out that the "skyrocketing cost of energy" has created job layoffs, caused farmers to be unable to afford the fuel to run their equipment, and other issues.

"I hear from families, small business owners and emergency responders, and the message remains the same: the high cost of energy is out of control and they need immediate relief," he said. "…All over America, families are going to convenience stores and having to decide whether to buy a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas. Families are in pain."

A major factor, Hensarling pointed out that is contributing to the crisis is a decrease in supply with an increase in demand.

Hensarling said that 10 or 15 years ago there was not as much competition in oil demand as today.

"Ultimately what I believe we need to do is to increase American supply, American energy, on American soil," Hensarling said. "If you increase American supply, you can bring down the cost of energy."

Hensarling said that is years down the road.

Currently, the U.S. consumes two-thirds of the world’s crude oil but produces only one-third of the world-wide supply of energy.

"There have been proven reserves of oil and natural gas in the artic area of Alaska and offshore to run America for decades and decades…We can produce American energy in America if Congress will allow it, but so far they haven’t," Hensarling said.

Hensarling further said that the main problem is that current laws prevent Americans from accessing the majority of their own energy.

"Currently, 85 percent of the nation’s deep-sea resources and 75 percent of onshore resources are restricted," Hensarling said.

"We are the Saudi Arabia of coal," Hensarling said in another point. "There is technology that can turn coal into liquids."

Hensarling said there is enough coal in America to help fuel America for "hundreds of years" and that there is technology that will allow it to burn cleaner.

In a press release from Hensarling it states that he has introduced legislation that "repeals a law that threatens national security and energy security by preventing the government from developing alternative fuel sources from materials that are found abundantly in the United States and Canada such as coal, oil shale and tar sands."

He further mentioned the use of renewable energy as a resource.

"I hope that one day my children will run around in hydrogen powered cars and have solar cells in their roofs (in their homes), and I believe that will happen in their lifetime, but it is not going to happen tomorrow," Hensarling said. "In the meantime the fire department in Canton, Texas, has to go on emergency calls. Somewhere in Canton, Texas, somebody had to drive to work….today and in the foreseeable future we will be a carbon based economy."

During the question and answer session Canton Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer Coy Prather questioned Hensarling about options for Ethanol.

"I think Ethanol has not proven to be the boom we thought it would be," Hensarling said.

He pointed out the increase in food prices and the fact that Ethanol has been known to contribute to global warning.

"I am not a fan of Ethanol," Hensarling said. "…And it forces us to burn our food supply."

After several more questions Hensarling headed to Grand Saline, before moving on to Wood County.