U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri Thursday described steps Congress has already taken to bring down gas prices and invest in new alternative energy sources, as well as the benefits of locally produced alternative energy such as reduced costs and new jobs.
“Rising gas costs increase the price of food, which puts hard-working families and seniors in the tenuous position of making ends meet,” said Arcuri, D - Utica, at a press conference held at Schuyler Wood Pellet, which produces lower cost wood pellet fuel and has created news jobs in the Mohawk Valley since opening in December 2007. “To add insult to injury, the extra money we pay at the pumps only adds to the record high profits of the big oil companies. In Congress, I’ve been working to address this problem that Washington has ignored for decades.”
Of the bills discussed by the congressman, H.R. 5473 has been enacted by President George W. Bush and suspends shipments of oil to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the average price of crude oil falls below $50 a barrel. Arcuri said with the reserve over 95 percent full, there is no risk to the nation’s overall strategic reserve or security. He also said the measure would increase domestic supply and save consumers money.
Other bills meant to bring down gas prices and supported by Arcuri include H.R. 6377, which seeks to curb the excessive speculation taking place on the commodity and futures market, and H.R. 6251, which prohibits oil companies from obtaining additional leases unless they can demonstrate that they are producing oil and gas or are diligently developing the leases they already hold. H.R. 6251 did not pass the House.
“There are 68 million acres onshore and offshore in the U.S. that are already leased by oil companies and are fully open to drilling but are not yet developed,” said Arcuri. “These lands contain 81 percent of our federal oil and gas reserves, so wouldn’t it make sense to drill these lands before granting leases to drill elsewhere? And frankly, these are finite energy sources. We are not going to drill our way to energy independence.”
The congressman has also cosponsored and supported bills to foster increased energy efficiency and investment in new alternative energy sources, such as woody biomass energy sources like the low cost pellets created at Schuyler Wood Pellet.
New England Wood Pellet’s $12 million Schuyler plant has brought 18 direct and 75 indirect jobs to the Mohawk Valley. At 100,000 tons per year, the plant is the largest wood pellet manufacturing facility in the northeastern United States, producing wood pellet fuel from a variety of clean wood waste, including sawdust, wood chips, shavings and grindings from wood product manufacturing plants throughout upstate New York. It produces enough renewable energy annually to heat 33,000 homes and infuses the local economy with $10 million in annual expenditures.
“Schuyler Wood Pellet is an example of what investments in alternative energy production can do for our local economy,” said Arcuri. “The House has passed legislation to reinvest in renewable energy and energy efficient technology. With our location, natural resources and top-notch scientific and technological community, upstate New York is poised to seize this opportunity for a ‘green’ economy with high-paying ‘green’ jobs.”
“This facility shows that small communities like ours can make a difference,” said Schuyler Town Supervisor Ken Dodge. “When we first brought this plant to Schuyler there were those who were skeptical if it would work. Now we are asking them if they want to expand.”
Dodge added that Schuyler remains open to bringing in companies that produce alternative energy sources.
“Small communities are poised to make a difference in this new economy,” he said. “Communities like ours is where change can happen.”
“This energy crisis demands our attention and I believe Congress is already rising to the challenge,” said Arcuri. “But we won’t see a silver bullet solution overnight. We’ve taken a number of steps to bring critical relief, but there are many more long-term investments we must make. This is not a short-term crisis. And because of that, the United States must develop bold and far-sighted plans for a new energy future, plans that will finally end our dependence on foreign oil, preserve our environment and create new, high-paying jobs in upstate New York.”
Arcuri is seeking re-election this year and is facing a challenge from Republican Richard Hanna.