Shelley Moore Capito, April 1, 2004

Is the price at the pump too high for a gallon of gasoline? You're telling me! Everyone has noticed the rising prices. Americas dependence on foreign oil has driven up the price of gasoline for every motorist.

More than likely the gas that is pumped into your car, truck, ATV, or lawnmower comes from Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or Venezuela. These countries are known as The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Many West Virginians remember the OPEC oil embargo of 1973 that shocked the U.S. economy and triggered mile-long lines at the gas pumps. In 1973, the United States was dependent upon OPEC for 30 percent of our oil. Today that number has doubled to more than 60 percent!

Higher gas prices affect everyone. Energy is not only the lifeblood of our economy where we need electricity to build and produce goods- it is the lifeblood of our national security. We need energy for our military and for the technology that powers our national intelligence and homeland security. By depending on OPEC for the majority of our oil we are putting our economy and national security in jeopardy.

In 1983 there were 263 oil refineries operating in the United States, by 2002 that number dropped to only a 159. At the same time, we are importing the majority of our oil, as of the year 2003 only producing domestically 5.7 million barrels a day, 39 percent below our peak of 9.4 million barrels per day in 1970.

Vast reserves of untapped oil in Alaska could provide an estimated 10.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil, which means an additional million barrels per day. By comparison, that is more than double the total proven reserves in the state of Texas and almost half of Americas total 22.3 billion barrel reserve. That equates to $300 billion dollars the United States does not have to send to foreign countries, not to mention the estimated 7,000 jobs that would be created in West Virginia.

The comprehensive energy bill now before Congress makes a commitment to alternative energy production, including an investment in clean coal technology, which would create jobs in West Virginia. I have supported this legislation, but the bill is stalled in the United States Senate and going nowhere.

A comprehensive energy plan can ensure America has an abundant supply of reliable and affordable energy. Right now we are putting an awful lot at risk by not taking action on the Energy Bill.

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, represents West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Charleston.