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| Sen. McConnell speaks on energy use |
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| Written by Danetta Barker | |
| Wednesday, 03 September 2008 | |
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By Danetta Barker Editor The cost of energy from gasoline to natural gas is a major concern for voters this year. Energy plans are being discussed by nearly every candidate. US Sen. Mitch McConnell is no exception. The senator visited Fleming-Mason Energy Aug. 28 to discuss his views on powering an industrial nation. CEO Chris Perry welcomed the senator while employees of the cooperative were eager to hear what McConnell had to say about energy in America. “The number one issue is the price of gas, $4 a gallon is unacceptable,” McConnell said. The high price of gasoline makes going to work more expensive as well as increasing the cost of food, according to the senator’s statements. The cause, he said, is the low supply and the high demand. “The people in India and China are not all riding bikes anymore,” McConnell said . The world uses 87 million barrels of oil a day, according to his statistics with the US using 21 million barrels a day. Twelve million of that is imported while nine million is produced in the United States. McConnell said the solution is to find more oil and use less. Deep sea drilling and tapping into the oil shale will bring more oil onto the American market. McConnell suggested that the US stop exporting oil and use one third less oil. Still being afraid of oil spills and nuclear plants has stunted the growth of energy production in the United States, he said. No nuclear power plant has been built since the Three Mile meltdown in the 1970s, according to the senator. Coal to liquid is another alternative to oil. McConnell said the fuel produced by that method is similar to diesel and the military is interested in buying such a product. Wind and solar are viable alternatives, he said. “Wind and solar produce less than one percent each of the energy we use,” McConnell said. “You can’t get wind and solar everywhere. The southeast doesn’t have any wind.” McConnell wrapped up his presentation by telling the employees of Fleming-Mason Energy that one Americans will move beyond fossil fuels. In the meantime everything must be done to decrease the use of oil. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 September 2008 ) |
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