WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  With gas prices rising like the summer heat, it’s critical Congress supports solutions that help stabilize energy costs for us all.

Increased domestic energy exploration is part of the solution. Here at home, billions of barrels of oil lay beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.

Drilling for this oil in an environmentally sensitive manner could help reduce our reliance on imported oil. To most folks, this seems like common sense. Congress should lift the ban immediately.

But our economy cannot always rely primarily on oil. For our nation to have the energy it needs to compete with countries like China and India, we must move toward alternative energy sources to become more energy independent.

There is no single answer or fuel source that will make us energy independent, but several that are within our means of becoming commercially viable in the near future.

With our agricultural economy, cellulosic ethanol holds immense promise for Alabama. Across the U.S., solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal and coal-to-liquids also hold promise. For cars and trucks, we’re already seeing flex fuel vehicles, gas-electric hybrids and hydrogen-powered automobiles.

To help expand the use and availability of alternate fuels, Congress must lead the way and help unleash the power and ingenuity of the American people.

Here in East Alabama, we are poised to be on the cutting edge of this new revolution of energy independence. Recently, the Department of Agriculture held its Bio Energy Awareness Days in Washington. Auburn University participated in this event and demonstrated the Biomax 25, an eighteen-wheeler that turns agricultural waste into a type of fuel.

In partnership with Tuskegee University, Auburn built the vehicle as a mobile generator to produce electricity that heats poultry houses and greenhouses.

The machine is fueled using wood chips, not diesel. Auburn is working hard to see if Alabama-grown byproducts like poultry litter, peanut hulls or cotton waste could also work.

Of course, without Congressional support Auburn’s research may not have happened. The key for our new energy policy is for Congress to significantly increase its support for this type of innovative research.

When it comes to fueling the cars and trucks of the future, Alabama’s automakers are leading the way.

East Alabama especially is proud to be the home of Honda and Hyundai. These companies, along with others, are marketing or planning to make available new alternative fuel vehicles and gas-electric hybrids.

Honda, which has a plant in Lincoln, has chosen hydrogen as their fuel of the future. This summer, the automaker plans to introduce a new model that runs purely on hydrogen power, proving that this type of technology can work. 

Just imagine a car that you never have to fill with $4 gas and emits only water vapor.  It is technology like this that Congress must support far more aggressively.

 With Congress’ support, many more of us will power our future with alternative fuels. If you have ideas about Congress could help fuel our future, please feel free to write. I am interested to hear your ideas. As always, please contact me at www.house.gov/mike-rogers.