As Gas Prices Surge, Etheridge Holds Biofuels Summit

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

April 12, 2006

Contact: Joanne Peters
Phone: (202) 225-4531

As Gas Prices Surge,
Etheridge Holds Biofuels Summit

As gas prices continue to rise in North Carolina, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) hosted "Biofuels: North Carolina's Growing Opportunity," the Second Congressional District Biofuels Summit today, featuring local, state and national energy experts, biofuels producers and state government officials. Etheridge and the panelists examined the current state of biofuel development in North Carolina and explored how North Carolina, as the third largest agriculture producing state, can become a leader in biofuel production.

"Today we have the technology to make our own fuel from the produce we grow in our fields. Soybeans are the largest crop in the state of North Carolina, making up about 25 percent of the total acreage of the state. We have the answer to our fuel crisis growing in our fields," Etheridge said.

As the travel season begins, gas prices are already 60 cents higher than at this time last year. Oil experts are predicting prices could reach $2.75 a gallon by summer and $3 a gallon by fall. According to AAA, in North Carolina, the average price this week is $2.71, slightly higher than the national average.

Panelists at the summit discussed the need for biofuels production, local biofuels efforts, biofuels research in the state and the steps that North Carolina can take to become a leading biofuels producer. Etheridge plans to use the information from the summit to encourage Congress to enact policies that will encourage biofuels production and energy independence.

Etheridge, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and the co-chair of the Democratic Rural Working Group, is working to find solutions to rising gas prices. In addition to today's summit, Etheridge has also introduced the Federal Response to Emergency Energies (FREE) Act, which would give the federal government the authority to prosecute oil companies engaged in price gouging and other manipulative pricing practices. Currently no federal law exists to address price gouging. North Carolina's price gouging law is only in effect when the Governor has declared a state of emergency.

Panelists at the summit included Deron Lovaas, Natural Resources Defense Council Director of Oil Security; Brock Nicholson, Deputy Director, NC Division of Air Quality; Chris Beacham, Assistant Secretary, NC Department of Commerce; Anne Tazewell, Alternative Fuels Program Manager, NCSU Solar Center; Sam Brake, CEO, North Carolina Grain Growers Co-Op; Lyle Estill, V.P. Piedmont Bio-fuels Co-Op; Guest Professor, Central Carolina Community College; Dr. Steve Kelley, Head of Wood and Paper Science Department, NCSU; Larry Shirley, Director NC Energy Office; Dr. Alex Hobbs, Associate Director NC Solar Center and Carol Werner, Executive Director Environmental and Energy Study Institute

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