xcel
08-31-2006, 05:27 PM
Are we serious about energy policy and what are we going to do about our dependence on foreign oil? (http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17129928&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dept_id=473645&rfi=6)
Edwardsville Intelligencer - August 30, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Clean_Coal_Electrical_Generating_Station.jpg
Coal to liquid fuel process works best when the refineries are built directly over the mines. – More jobs.
As far as John Shimkus is concerned, seeing a sudden drop in gasoline prices might not be a good thing.
The Republican U.S. Congressman from Collinsville says watching gas prices ping ponging around the $3 a gallon mark might actually force Americans - and their government - to come up with a hard and fast energy policy.
Shimkus, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, said our gasoline woes aren't something new.
Back in the 1970s, when our country experienced its first gas shortage, leaders had an opportunity to forge a national energy policy.
But just about the time President Jimmy Carter was about to get the ball rolling, gas started flowing freely and the prices dropped.
When the public outcry subsided, attention was turned elsewhere and that, according to Shimkus, is why we are in our current fix.
And, according to the Congressman, we will remain in that fix - on and off - until Americans - and their government - can answer the questions: Are we serious about an energy policy? And what are we going to do to move away from our dependence on foreign oil?
Shimkus said their are many options and one is renewable fuels, such as ethanol.
Shimkus was one of the first elected officials at any level to see the benefits of biofuels. "I don't scream about that anymore. It's being done," he said.
So he's moved on.
He understands the possibilities of solar power, wind power and hydrogen-fueled automobiles.
But his next crusade will be to get the ball rolling on turning another Illinois commodity that is in abundance - coal - and turning it into fuel.
Shimkus said the technology to do this has been around since the end of World War II, when the Germans used it.
And now, China is in the process of building a plant to facilitate such a conversion.
Shimkus doesn't want America to get left behind.
There is a lot of coal left under our Illinois topsoil. "Four-hundred and fifty years worth," the 19th District representative said.
So there is a benefit to our state. But it gets even better.
Shimkus said the coal to liquid fuel process works best when the refineries are built directly over the mines. (Read: more jobs for Illinois residents).
The fuel produced during the conversion is best used to make diesel and jet fuel so the motoring public would only benefit so much.
But it's something.
Americans - and their government - are slow to move when it comes to energy issues as it has been proven in the past.
But we're lucky, we have John Shimkus in there moving for us.
Edwardsville Intelligencer - August 30, 2006
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Clean_Coal_Electrical_Generating_Station.jpg
Coal to liquid fuel process works best when the refineries are built directly over the mines. – More jobs.
As far as John Shimkus is concerned, seeing a sudden drop in gasoline prices might not be a good thing.
The Republican U.S. Congressman from Collinsville says watching gas prices ping ponging around the $3 a gallon mark might actually force Americans - and their government - to come up with a hard and fast energy policy.
Shimkus, a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, said our gasoline woes aren't something new.
Back in the 1970s, when our country experienced its first gas shortage, leaders had an opportunity to forge a national energy policy.
But just about the time President Jimmy Carter was about to get the ball rolling, gas started flowing freely and the prices dropped.
When the public outcry subsided, attention was turned elsewhere and that, according to Shimkus, is why we are in our current fix.
And, according to the Congressman, we will remain in that fix - on and off - until Americans - and their government - can answer the questions: Are we serious about an energy policy? And what are we going to do to move away from our dependence on foreign oil?
Shimkus said their are many options and one is renewable fuels, such as ethanol.
Shimkus was one of the first elected officials at any level to see the benefits of biofuels. "I don't scream about that anymore. It's being done," he said.
So he's moved on.
He understands the possibilities of solar power, wind power and hydrogen-fueled automobiles.
But his next crusade will be to get the ball rolling on turning another Illinois commodity that is in abundance - coal - and turning it into fuel.
Shimkus said the technology to do this has been around since the end of World War II, when the Germans used it.
And now, China is in the process of building a plant to facilitate such a conversion.
Shimkus doesn't want America to get left behind.
There is a lot of coal left under our Illinois topsoil. "Four-hundred and fifty years worth," the 19th District representative said.
So there is a benefit to our state. But it gets even better.
Shimkus said the coal to liquid fuel process works best when the refineries are built directly over the mines. (Read: more jobs for Illinois residents).
The fuel produced during the conversion is best used to make diesel and jet fuel so the motoring public would only benefit so much.
But it's something.
Americans - and their government - are slow to move when it comes to energy issues as it has been proven in the past.
But we're lucky, we have John Shimkus in there moving for us.