Report From Congress: 5/7/07

Statement

REPORT FROM CONGRESS
By Congressman Roger F. Wicker

Addressing the nation's enormous demand for energy requires a comprehensive approach involving domestic exploration, nuclear power, alternative and renewable fuels, and conservation. It is encouraging that wide-ranging efforts are under way in the public and private sectors to meet these challenges, including a new project in north Mississippi.

Governor Haley Barbour and I recently attended groundbreaking ceremonies in Choctaw County for a project to convert coal to low-cost and environmentally-friendly liquid fuel. Silverado Green Fuel, Inc., will use the vast supply of lignite coal found in Mississippi to create this new fuel form, which could be an alternative to petroleum-based energy and dramatically reduce America's dependency on foreign energy sources. Our state will be on the cutting-edge of this new technology.

COAL IS ABUNDANT

As this column was being written, a barrel of crude oil sold for $65. Silverado company officials predict this technology being developed in Choctaw County can produce a replacement fuel for crude oil at a cost of about $15 a barrel, and it will come from an energy source found in abundance in north America. At the current rate of consumption, the U.S. has a 300 year supply of coal.

The challenge is finding ways to utilize our tremendous coal resources in an economical and environmentally-safe manner. The 2005 energy bill included incentives to promote clean coal technology. Hearings are under way on Capitol Hill to review the programs already in place and consider ways to advance these technologies.

AIR FORCE'S SYNTHETIC FUEL

The U.S. Air Force provides a good example of the work being done in research and in the use of renewable and alternative energy in the public sector. In testimony before our Military Construction/VA Appropriations Subcommittee, Air Force officials told us they had collaborated in development of a synthetic fuel and flown a B-52 bomber on two occasions using the new fuel. It has also proved to be clean-burning, emitting almost no carbon or sulphur into the atmosphere.

While this research is in its early stages, the Pentagon believes it offers great potential to cut the major expense involved in keeping our military aircraft flying. Every $10 increase in the price of jet fuel costs the Air Force more than $600 million annually. This synthetic fuel can be made from coal, natural gas, and a number of biomass sources.

The Air Force has also been leading efforts to promote conservation by employing solar power, geothermal, and wind energy to help fuel operations at several bases in the western U.S. Another initiative involves the design of new military facilities that meet enhanced energy efficiency standards.

NO 'SILVER BULLET'

No "silver bullet" exists that will lead our country to energy independence. The solution to this crisis will come from the work of enterprising individuals, private companies, and federal government initiatives such as the examples I have shared in this column. Congress can help speed these efforts. Enactment of the 2005 energy bill was a positive step, but we must increase our commitment. I hope we can consider initiatives to encourage oil and gas exploration in the U.S. and provide new opportunities to develop alternative and renewable energy sources.

Source