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Letters to the EditorSaturday, August 30, 2008 12:01 AM CDT
Alternatives needed to hold down energy costs
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As a farmer, we recognize the value of corn-based ethanol to expand our supplies of renewable domestic energy. If it weren't for billions of gallons of ethanol to stretch our motor fuel supply, Americans would be paying another 60 cents per gallon at the pump.

But we also recognize that it's going to take more than ethanol or soy biodiesel to get a handle on the rising energy costs that threaten my ability to make a living and the consumer's ability to fuel their cars, buy their food, and pay their bills.

One of our concerns is the price of natural gas, which will affect many of us within the next couple of months. Natural gas prices are expected to average nearly $12 per thousand cubic feet this year. Residential electric rates went up 5 percent nationally this year and will go up another 10 percent on average next year.

That's why Livingston and McLean County Farm Bureaus are calling on our elected officials to take decisive action to address rising energy costs when they return to Washington next month. More than ever, we need an energy policy that speeds up the development of energy resources anywhere in the United States.

We need to decrease the demand for natural gas by increasing incentives for clean coal technology in electric power generation. And we need further development of alternative energy sources.

Join us in our call to action on energy. Please call your congressman or senator today.

Scott Hoeft

Rural Bloomington

Dennis Haab

Rural Forrest

The writers are, respectively, presidents of the McLean County and Livingston County farm bureaus.

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Reader comments on this story - 5 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Old man wrote on Sep 2, 2008 3:22 PM:

" A simple purchase of symbol UNG at current levels would be a hedge against possible rising natural gas prices. "

Wat Tyler wrote on Aug 30, 2008 10:00 AM:

" The fundamental reason that natural gas prices have risen so high is that in the last 20 years we have built about 90% of our new electrical generator capacity fueled by Natural gas.

As the natural law of Supply and Demand kick in, the cost of natural gas goes up and we pay more for heating our homes and water, and incidentally, have driven many chemical companies out of business.

We need to build more nuclear power plants and more wind and solar and get out of the habit of firing up natural gas plants to provide our peak power. "

RANTIPOLE wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:40 AM:

" Clean Coal???? Do these guys actually believe this? They need all the natural gas they can for the wasteful production of ethanol and fertilizer for the corn they grow. We all pay the cost in the subsidies to welfare farmers. So there is no .60 savings. More lies from special interests blind to the truth. "

buckeye wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:36 AM:

" Scott , Dennis ,How do you feel about ending the taxpayer subsides and tarrifs on trade for ethonal and biodiesel ? Why should us working folks line the pockets of farmers while food prices go higher and higher? These fuels cost way more than the price on the pump . Be honest you folks just want the profits from these fuel and the government welfair for producing them . Farmers have traditionly been self reliant yet more and more they sit back on the public dole like bums. "

ktlin wrote on Aug 30, 2008 5:29 AM:

" I think our energy costs should be the primary thing that is addressed this political season. So far we had Obama consulting with economic leaders to come up with a plan which he has done. Meanwhile McCain chose to respond by playing a Paris/Brittany ad and passing out tire gauges to ridicule until he realized there was something to that notion. We also have Graham who was McCain's cochair at the time saying we were in a mental recession and were a nation of whiners. McCain thinks our situation is a joke. And maybe Obama is right. McCain may care but he just doesn't know what is going on. Many people would rather pass on scurrilous emails rather than face up to the situation we have and how the candidates will use their judgment to address it. Are we going to choose someone willing to tackle the issue or someone who thinks it is a big joke? Are we going to choose someone who would rather use gimmicks than plans? And admits it. "

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