[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 108 (Friday, June 27, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6322-S6324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IDAHOANS SPEAK OUT ON HIGH ENERGY PRICES

  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to 
share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and 
they responded by the hundreds. The stories, numbering over 1,000, are 
heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting 
every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo
.senate.gov to the Congressional Record. This is not an issue that will 
be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious 
attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only 
detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have 
suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to 
tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask 
unanimous consent to have today's letters printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Senator Crapo: Thank you for letting me respond to this 
     subject. Energy prices are hitting every family hard in their 
     pockets. With prices going up on fuel it effects every 
     product that we buy. These energy prices are causing more 
     inflation on America than any other number one item we have. 
     This country is purchasing 60-70 percent of our oil from 
     foreign sources. What we need to do is become energy 
     independent. We need to do everything we can do to meet this 
     goal.
       To me, the way we do that is doing everything such as; 
     renewable nuclear, solar, wind, hydro, biomass energy. But 
     just doing renewable energy is not enough. We still need oil 
     for lots of things, so we need to be deep drilling off 
     shores, drilling in Alaska, using shell oil and also the use 
     of coal. We also need new refineries to meet our future 
     needs.
       I know that all of this will take a little bit of time to 
     accomplish but its time to get started. Please do not just 
     think of today but way out in the future. If this country 
     becomes energy independent it will lower our prices and help 
     keep inflation low.
       So, please, all Senators and Representatives, work together 
     to make this country strong and energy independent.
           Sincerely,
     William, Hayden.
                                  ____

       My husband and I are riding our bicycles to work. We wish 
     there were incentives for communities to expand their walking 
     and biking paths. (I lived for two years in Holland 30 years 
     ago and loved the bicycle paths that were totally separate 
     from the motorized vehicle roads). Families there used public 
     transportation and bicycles. I would hope that the government 
     would encourage citizens to get back on their feet and their 
     bikes by creating safe paths and creating communities that 
     encourage gathering rather than urban sprawl. We will be 
     richer and healthier.
       I am also getting my name on a waiting list for a hybrid 
     vehicle. Government should

[[Page S6323]]

     encourage motor vehicle manufacturers to build energy 
     efficient vehicles. (This should have been done a long time 
     ago!!) I am sort of happy about high gasoline prices because 
     finally everyone will put into production technology that 
     will free us from fossil fuels. Too bad we have to be forced 
     to do good things eh? I hope you will support legislation 
     that helps us change rather than stay dependent on an energy 
     source that is doomed to get more scarce and more expensive.
       I also have planted a big garden, so I am not so dependent 
     this summer on the grocery store (and the rising cost from 
     transportation).
       Thanks for working on this issue.
     Kari, Rexburg.
                                  ____

       Senator Crapo: Within the last few days we received our 
     bill from Idaho Power. In it was our new level pay amount for 
     this coming year. Our usage was up only very slightly, and we 
     had only about $4.00 to pay to balance out our account 
     following this past year's payments. We were about as close 
     to ``even'' as you can get. Our level pay (for Idaho Power) 
     went from $70 to $103. This is a nearly 50 percent increase 
     without a corresponding increase in usage. (Again, almost no 
     increase in usage at all.) Energy costs are affecting even 
     electrical power.
       Gas prices are, of course, rapidly increasing. Diesel 
     prices, however, continue to rise even more. One of the 
     reasons we purchased a pickup with a diesel engine (for about 
     $5,000 extra) was because of the increased fuel mileage. Yet 
     we are being punished for choosing fuel efficiency because 
     the diesel prices continue to run far above even premium 
     grade gasoline. I have read many times that diesel is not the 
     most highly refined product from a barrel of oil. Because of 
     the high fuel prices, we cannot afford to go camping as many 
     times this year as last year, and I know of several others 
     who either are not camping at all or are cutting back 
     significantly.
       I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday, who for many 
     years with his family, was a missionary in Indonesia. He 
     simply said that in Indonesia people riot and rebel when fuel 
     prices go up because they know that when fuel costs rise, all 
     costs rise. Of course, I would not want to see the civil 
     disturbances in America, but I would like to see more people 
     (including those in Congress who apparently do not see this) 
     understand that fuel and energy costs affect all costs. We 
     are not facing an isolated issue of a rise at the gas 
     station. Shipping costs (whether by truck or plane) are up. 
     Shippers will not just ``eat'' those costs--they will be 
     cumulatively passed on to people who no longer have the 
     economic cushion to absorb it.
       I am frustrated by the current Congress' position of 
     practicing opposition to oil exploration, increased refining 
     capacity, and any other short-term responses to an immediate 
     situation other than blaming us for using energy and blaming 
     oil companies for the amount of profits gained by a low 
     percentage of profit on an extremely high volume of business. 
     I too would like to see alternative energy sources--but those 
     are only long-term or very long-term solutions. Reducing 
     usage sounds nice until people realize that shutting down a 
     portion of our economy will have a ripple effect on every 
     other part of the economy. When fuel costs get too high, 
     businesses will end up closing either because of their own 
     costs or because their customers no longer have money to pay 
     them.
       Another friend of mine owns a small plumbing business. He 
     described just last week that because of the fuel prices he 
     is now forced to either tell one of his employees to stay 
     home and run the routes himself (taking time away from 
     management and finding new accounts) or combine two 
     plumbers into one truck instead of them each going to 
     separate jobs during the day. This reduces the number of 
     customers he can serve during that day, which has a ripple 
     effect both to and through his business.
       How nice it would be to have available the mass transit 
     from the Northeastern Corridor, from The Bay Area of 
     California, or from the Los Angeles area. For Idaho and much 
     of the West, this is not economically feasible without 
     massive subsidies from the federal government. The distances 
     between towns is too great to justify running buses or 
     building rails--there are not enough riders.
       Sometimes it would be nice to make some of the people in 
     the Congress sit in a car as it travels at the posted speed 
     limit the ``short'' trip between Boise and the next city of 
     equal or greater size (Salt Lake? Spokane? Portland?). 
     Perhaps this all-day trip through minimally-populated areas 
     would help them understand that fuel is vital, distances 
     great, and practical and affordable alternative travel 
     options non-existent.
       And none of this deals with the fact that when farmers know 
     they will lose money on a field because the costs of 
     production will exceed the possible revenue, they will simply 
     not plant.
     Carl, Boise.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: Thank you for this opportunity to share 
     an example of how we are dealing with high energy costs. Our 
     family is in Pocatello, and we have a son in school at the 
     University of Idaho. It costs $150 even with our 30 MPG cars 
     for the round trip to either visit him or have him visit us. 
     There is no real alternative of getting to Moscow from here 
     as plane fare is much more than that, and the travel time is 
     long no matter what the method. Getting a specialized 
     education in Idaho such as a law degree necessitates students 
     attending universities that are long distances from home. I 
     am sure there are other families with students in far-off 
     places that need face to face support making long journeys a 
     regular occurrence.
       I am not an expert on energy reserves, but it has been said 
     by people that I trust to know these things that domestic oil 
     production has been stalled/curtailed due to strict laws and 
     environmental concerns. America has oil reserves in Alaska, 
     Texas, the Dakotas, and offshore that we are not using due to 
     various regulations. I would recommend allowing this domestic 
     production to happen as soon as possible.
       Nuclear energy production is a necessity. With recent 
     advancements, this type of energy is low-cost, safe, 
     environmentally-friendly, and good for the domestic economy. 
     I would request that more nuclear plants be approved for 
     construction and use.
       I appreciate your time and consideration in these matters.
     John, Pocatello.
                                  ____

       Hello Senator Crapo: A quick little story with a huge 
     impact. I live in a nice apartment complex and know several 
     people who live here. I have recently talked to a couple of 
     them, and they are having to outright move to get closer to 
     their jobs in order to make more per hour than the cost of a 
     round trip in their car. I myself am a 100% disabled Veteran. 
     I have to routinely make trips to Spokane, Washington, in 
     order to get medications to be monitored for my health 
     problems. Recently, I have had to postpone/reschedule trips 
     in order to save for the trip due to the huge increase in 
     fuel prices. People here in Sandpoint are also losing their 
     jobs left and right due to company downsizing caused directly 
     from rising fuel prices. What is this country coming to? I 
     think ``many'' Senators and Congressman/ladies should be 
     reminded that they work for us, the people of this country, 
     because if we want to we can elect them right out of office 
     just as quickly as we elected them into office. That also 
     goes with the President of this country. All this lip service 
     and no action. People just expect this any more and have 
     little faith that anyone will do anything to help this nation 
     rather than line their pockets with dirty money or favors for 
     selling the U.S. out in one way, shape, or form. Again, thank 
     you for voting no regarding the increase in gas prices. 
     Idahoans are ``so'' proud to be in this state. We are proud 
     that the upper management such as yourself still believe in 
     our Constitution and defend all amendments, not just the ones 
     that will get you elected. This means more to us that 
     anything I believe. Also, you carry through with your 
     promises to Idaho State and the people of this state. You set 
     the example for all the Senators, Congressmen, and the 
     President to follow.
           Sincerely,
     Mike, Sandpoint.
                                  ____

       Unfortunately, the high prices of energy are not just 
     hitting Idahoans at the pumps. The high gas prices have 
     opened the floodgates for the cost of consumer products to be 
     increased across the board. Everywhere we turn, it costs 
     more. Any mode of travel, food, clothing, household repair 
     (the repairman has to figure in the extra cost of gas), the 
     cost of fertilizer and feed for our livestock. Everyone is 
     concerned about the amount of foreclosures in the state. That 
     will only get worse as what income Idahoans had is diminished 
     by the additional cost of everything including gas. It will 
     be even harder for Idahoans to pay their house payment and we 
     may see even more foreclosures.
       Mother Nature is having her way with our agriculture states 
     with flooding, etc. That will drive the cost of food and feed 
     even higher, and so much for ethylene. Be careful or it will 
     be a battle between feed and ethylene. If our nation does not 
     wise up and start producing our own food, fuel, etc. and quit 
     building houses on our most fertile ground. The legacy we 
     will leave ourselves and the future generations will be that 
     we gave away or built on our future and the nation by buying 
     and outsourcing too much to foreign countries. We will be at 
     their mercy for our food and fuel.
       My humble opinions,
     Mary, Bonners Ferry.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: Your vote against climate change 
     legislation smacked of partisan politics more to please the 
     oil companies and less to do with supporting Idahoans paying 
     less for gas.
       Regarding your request for my observations on the current 
     situation:
       I do NOT support: nuclear energy technologies (because of 
     the catastrophic consequences when failure happens); rampant 
     destruction of natural habitats for meager results. (i.e., 
     Alaska. What is the sense in investing millions of dollars to 
     drill for oil in the ANWR when estimates say it contains only 
     enough oil to solely support U.S. consumption for 7 months?); 
     tax breaks for oil companies making windfall profits.
       I DO support: Wind and solar power; effective renewable and 
     alternative fuels; more stringent gas mileage demands on 
     automobile manufacturers; more research on affordable 
     hybrids; reduction in price on hybrids; tax incentives for 
     both building and purchasing hybrids; tax penalties for 
     purchasing Large SUV and low gas mileage autos; incentives 
     for conservation; penalties for price gouging on oil 
     companies; Government support for States developing better

[[Page S6324]]

     public transportation in smaller towns; tax incentives for 
     oil companies that reinvest their windfall profits into more 
     economical oil production and research and development.
       On a personal note, I have been looking for a job, but 
     because of higher gas prices, I have been forced to limit 
     potential job interviews because of the cost of travel.
       I would call that a catch 22!
     Vera, Hope.
                                  ____

       Dear Senator Crapo: I absolutely agree that we are in 
     serious trouble vis-a-vis our energy situation. Here is my 
     story:
       We have not been overly impacted by the high price of gas 
     because we deliberately choose to live less than five miles 
     from our office and we drive a Prius. Many days we do not 
     even need to take our car out of the garage. However, we see 
     many families in dire straits.
       What needs to happen rather than increase our foolish 
     belief in oil by doing things like encouraging more oil 
     drilling in the U.S., is that we need to provide support and 
     incentives for Idaho families and all U.S. families to make 
     wise energy choices like we have. We need to provide even 
     greater tax incentives to those who choose hybrid or electric 
     vehicles. We need to institute tax credits for those who buy 
     or rent homes within walking/biking distance of their 
     workplaces. We need to demand of federal and local 
     governments that public transportation be provided in urban 
     areas and that areas like rural Idaho be connected to nearby 
     areas by fuel efficient means--for example, the electric fast 
     trains of Europe would work beautifully in a state like 
     Idaho--one line running from Moscow to Boise, one from Boise 
     to Pocatello or Salt Lake and one line running from Boise to 
     Sun Valley would make it possible to access almost all the 
     state now accessible by car by electric train.
       We need to provide tax and other incentives for energy 
     produced by wind and solar power. We need to provide tax and 
     other incentives to our farmers to adopt less petroleum 
     dependent farming methods. We need to provide encouragement 
     to individuals to eat locally produced, non-petroleum based, 
     sustainable foods.
       The only way we are going to save our national and our 
     personal economic well-being is to get off of oil. The only 
     way we are going to resolve the war between ourselves and the 
     Islamic fundamentalists is to reduce our military presence in 
     their lives and the only way we can do that is to release 
     ourselves from our dependence on the oil under the Middle 
     East. Once we do not need that oil, we will finally be free 
     and we will no longer be a target.
       That is my story. Our family was lucky because we made wise 
     energy choices some time ago. We do not commute, we buy only 
     one 10-gallon tank of gas per month, and we get as much of 
     our food as possible from local growers. While we are feeling 
     the aware of the pinch of gas prices and mostly food prices 
     for items that we can't grow ourselves or get from local 
     growers, we are not suffering as so many Americans are. We 
     need to address the long term-issues so that more people will 
     be in the position we are in rather than simply putting out 
     small fires by doing things like reducing gas taxes or 
     drilling in Alaska. It is no good to put out small fires when 
     your whole house is in flames.
     Deborah.

                          ____________________