The Pickens Sentinel
Published: August 21, 2008
By: Jason Evans
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Barrett Urges Constituents to Get Involved on Energy Reform

PICKENS - Many constituents of the Third District come to Rep. Gresham Barrett for help with their problems.

Now Barrett is asking for constituent's help in solving the nation's energy problem.

Barrett urged constituents to let the House of Representatives they really want energy reform.

"It is the one issue that could make or break this country," Barrett said. "Everything revolves around energy."

Barrett held a press conference at Blue Ridge Electric Co-op Monday morning.

Though Congress is in recess, Republicans continue to meet on the floor of the House to talk about "American solutions for America."

"They've been talking about energy solutions that involve us," Barrett said. "They've been talking about ANWR, they've been talking about nuclear, coal to gas, renewables, alternatives."

Barrett wants to use "every tool in the tool box" regarding energy.

He spoke of a man in Edgefield County who told Barrett he spends at least $90 a week just driving to work.

"A third of his paycheck," he said. "That's wrong."

Oil is not the solution, Barrett said.

"It is a bridge of where we are to where we want to go," he said.

The 700,000 constituents in the Third District are a powerful voice, Barrett said.

"Pick up the phone," he said. "Tell them you want a vote on comprehensive energy legislation and you want it now. Let your voice be heard."

Barrett is working on a plan, scheduled to be unveiled in September, to make the states energy independent, he said.

"It's going to include everything, from nuclear to renewables to hydrogen to wind to solar," he said.

Thanks to the Savannah River National Lab, Barrett believes the state can serve as refueling station for spent nuclear rods.

"We can take our spent nuclear rods and energize them for plants in South Carolina," he said.

Barrett is also working with former South Carolina governor Jim Edwards, the Secretary of energy under President Reagan.

"The sad part about is we are talking about the same stuff he was talking about 35 years ago," he said. "Let's make it happen now."

Federal biofuel initiatives are hurting America's farmers, said R.D. Morrison, who has a cattle operation.

"Corn has gone from $2-3 a bushel to as much as $8 a bushel," Morrison said. "$8 corn is bad for people like us that produce the beef in this country."

Advocating using non-competing food products such as switchgrass or sugarcane for biofuel, Barrett said the energy problem is a snowball.

"Not only is it higher prices at the pump, its higher commodity prices at the grocery store," he said.

Government biofuel mandates send the wrong message, Barrett said.

"When you've got the federal government monkeying in the free market, there's something wrong with that picture," he said. "Let's let the free market process work."

Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative President Charles Dalton said he appreciates Barrett speaking out about energy.

"That's our lifeblood here," Dalton said. "We see some increases in the wholesale cost, our cost, of power in the next two or three years. It's a concern that needs to be addressed."

Dalton said he understands emissions regulations and coal standards but they come with a cost.

"We understand the need for them," he said. "That does drive up the cost of generating power."

Delays in the construction of nuclear plants also drive up costs, he said.

"We need more generation, we need more power available," Dalton said. "Without it, our costs, what we pay, is going to continue to increase. And of course, if we're paying more for the wholesale power, that's going to force us to raises our rates to our members and our consumers. That we don't want to do."

To contact the U.S. House of Representatives about energy reform, call 202-224-3121.