American energy independence is vital — not only to our national security, but to our efforts to create jobs here at home. This week I met with over 40 members of my Energy Advisory Council to discuss many of the issues we now face related to energy. In this newsletter you will find more information about the meeting and about my position on energy policy.
Also in this newsletter, you will find a recent letter to the editor in the Fayetteville Observer regarding the work we are doing on the Agriculture Committee and a reminder about the October 31st deadline for applications to my office for service academy nominations.
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Inaugural Meeting of Energy Advisory Council
Yesterday, I held the inaugural meeting of my Energy Advisory Council in Clayton, North Carolina. Over 40 local business owners and representatives from the natural gas, oil, electric, solar, and wind energy sectors turned out for a productive dialogue on the challenges facing their industry. Many issues were discussed, including the new law to allow fracking in the state, rising fuel costs, the North Carolina gas tax, and the energy bills being deliberated in the House.
The Energy Advisory Council will meet at least once a year while updating my office on issues affecting the industry.
This is a very exciting time for energy in North Carolina. Be it wind, solar, natural gas, or oil, our state has so much to offer. I support an all-of-the-above energy approach, which includes development of alternative energy sources such as nuclear, wind, solar, and biomass, along with drilling for oil and natural gas. As a nation, we have a duty to become energy independent – not only for national security reasons, but to create jobs. America is home to vast natural resources, but many of our energy policies are built on the notion that energy is limited and becoming more scarce.
The reality is that we have more combined oil, coal, and natural gas resources than any other country on the planet. The only real question is whether we will have access to our abundant energy resources, not whether sufficient resources exist. That’s why Congress has a responsibility to continue to push for effective energy policies that include opening the Outer Continental Shelf, ANWR, and other Federal lands to natural gas exploration.
In the News
Three lawmakers deserve praise
Letter to the Editor – Fayetteville Observer
Our poultry producers owe a debt of gratitude to U.S. Reps. Renee Ellmers, Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell. Poultry is important to North Carolina, and our economy has been suffering because of recent droughts out West and from decreased demand and the increases in feed prices. This has had a damaging effect on our producers and their families. But instead of addressing the real causes of these problems, some continue to push for an increase in burdensome regulations by the federal government.
To protect farmers and provide sustainable solutions, we must allow more flexibility in the renewable fuel standard and decrease the ethanol subsidy mandates that are driving up feed and fuel costs.
Congress members Ellmers, McIntyre and Kissell have been working tirelessly on the House Agriculture Committee in a bipartisan effort to address these issues and to push for a study to estimate the feasibility of a safety-net program for our poultry growers. The implementation of a poultry safety net will allow our farmers to adapt to changing market conditions while protecting their farms and businesses from further harm. Decreasing the regulatory burdens on our farmers is the only way our industry can grow and prosper.
A recent article in the Observer implied that regulations protect growers when, in fact, overregulation has caused them great harm. Instead of increased regulations, we should be focusing on the issues that are truly affecting N.C. poultry. Our N.C. Agriculture Committee members of Congress, Ellmers, McIntyre and Kissell, are tirelessly working to address our empty chicken house problems.
Deadline for Service Academy Nominations
The deadline to submit an application to my office for service academy nominations is October 31st. If you know someone in the Second District who is interested in attending a United States Service Academy, information about the application and nomination process is posted on my website.
If you have questions or need additional information, contact Alice McCall in my District Office at 910/230-1910.