United States representative

proposes bill to cover one-third of fuel costs

By DAN HEATH

PLATTSBURGH -- U.S. Rep. John McHugh wants the country to fast-track efforts to wean itself from its dependence on foreign oil.

"I think we have to be as aggressive as we possibly can," he said at Wednesday's Plattsburgh Noon Rotary Club meeting.

That includes development of multiple sources of alternative energy, such as wind, solar, nuclear and bio-diesel, as long as it's not grain based.

That way, if one form of energy is diminished, others are available to take up the slack.

Even fast-tracked, efforts would likely take 15 to 25 years, McHugh said. It would take 25 to 40 years if not done with urgency.

CONSERVATION

"Where we can, we need to mandate conservation," the congressman said.

That includes measures like fuel-economy standards for automakers, green-construction standards for public buildings and a gas-guzzler tax.

There should also be incentives for investment in fuel-efficiency and alternative-energy technology, McHugh said.

Any country would be hard pressed to have reached a more precarious situation in regard to energy, McHugh said.

The United States remains the only global superpower, yet is fully dependent on oil, and that oil comes from some dangerous and unpredictable sources, he said.

OIL RESERVES