TANNER REQUESTS ACTION NOW
ON FUEL ALTERNATIVES

WASHINGTON, DC -- With fuel costs rising, U.S. Rep. John Tanner asked House leaders to work now on broadening the nation’s energy policy. The time is now to explore other types of fuel and reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, Tanner said.

“Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a growing world economy and a busy summer driving season have all revealed a weakness in our national energy policy,” Tanner wrote in his Sept. 29 letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton and Rep. John Dingell, the committee’s top-ranked Democrat. “As a result, gas prices in Tennessee and the rest of the country have literally skyrocketed, and as winter approaches, the rise in energy prices will be less about increased cost at the pump and more about families unable to heat their homes.”

The American economy will continue to depend on oil as a major energy source for the foreseeable future, but it is important to look now toward alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen, ethanol and other organic fuels such as biodiesel, he said.

“Furthermore, our ever-growing dependence on foreign oil only guarantees that we will have to continue dealing with potentially unfriendly countries and that the price of oil will continue to be controlled by forces that are beyond our ability to regulate,” Tanner wrote.

His letter also encouraged conservation and increased energy efficiency methods such as hybrid cars that do not require as much traditional fuel.

Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8^th Congressional district in West and Middle Tennessee.

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Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714