[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5369]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, according to the Energy Information 
Agency, the United States imports about 60 percent of its oil today and 
that number is expected to go up to almost 80 percent in the next 10 
years. As a country, we need to reduce our dependency on foreign fuel 
sources and start implementing alternative energy sources and programs 
that can be found here in the United States, like coal.
  Imported fuel such as crude oil and natural gas are costing the 
country millions of dollars a year and accounts for about one-third of 
the United States trade deficit. Imported fuels also account for about 
17 percent of an increase in America's energy consumption from 2004 to 
2005.
  Now liquid coal can be developed for $50 a barrel. Compare that with 
$107 for oil today. Not only does this innovative fuel cost us less, 
but also coal is one of the most abundant natural resources in the 
United States. As Congress continues to explore the use of alternative 
energy sources, we need to look closely at coal to liquid.

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