Rep. Don Young talks energy and earmarks

PALMER — Congressman Don Young addressed a joint meeting of the Wasilla and Palmer chambers of commerce Wednesday, stressing the importance of continuing development of Alaska’s energy resources.

Young began by citing his growing concern with the growing trade deficit.

“Even last year during the recession time, we exported $462 billion overseas,” Young said. “That’s your bloodline, that’s your life, that’s your jobs.”

“We have to get back on the road to production in this country, not just consumption,” said Young, and the key to production is energy.

He is in a fight with the other members of Congress who are against any carbon-emitting fuel production, he said. He is trying to show them 24 percent of a barrel of oil is used for non-fuel purposes.

“We might be able to replace the gasoline, we might be able to replace the heating oil, and we might be able to replace the jet fuel. But you cant replace the 24 percent of the barrel.”

Out of that 24 percent come the resins that make shoes, medical equipment and tires, he said.

Young said he has corresponded with Russia and China, and they believe the largest oil reserves left in the world are under the Arctic Ocean. They will be drilling, he said.

“If we’re not involved in and participating in and having the Coast Guard there and maybe working out an agreement, we’re going to be left behind,” Young said. “What are you going to do when China has an oil spill? Are they going to clean it up?”

Besides the oil-based resins, energy is a requirement of production, he said.

“We have to aggressively pursue the energy sources in this state,” Young said. “Susitna Dam should be built. We could in fact have a gas line built to provide gas to this state.”

With these two sources of energy, he said, Alaska could expand its production and manufacturing sectors.

The problem, he said, is hydro power projects are blocked from federal stimulus package funding. Hydro power does not qualify as a renewable energy source under the bill because of its environmental impacts.

“Natural gas, hydro, geothermal. All those things need to be put online in the state so future generations have an opportunity for industry and an economic base,” Young said.

Constituent projects

of interest

He wrapped up by announcing he will run for re-election and fielded questions:

George Sitkat, Mat-Su Energy: We’re a husband and wife owned company that want’s to celebrate education in the Valley for renewable energies. What support could you add to that goal?

Rep. Young: The energy wheel is what we’re talking about. Not one form of energy should be supplying all our energy. That’s what we did with diesel fuel; that was a mistake. We need many different spokes that make the wheel turn round instead of flat.

Bill Allen, City of Palmer: The stimulus package has a lot of money for transportation. How short is that of improving our transportation system up to an adequate level?

Rep. Young: It’s real short. My frustration with the stimulus package — and I voted against it, right up front — is that when the president first came down with the package, it wasn’t that bad. It had 25 percent of the money spent was for infrastructure.

And it got into the House, … it dropped down to 5 percent. Out of that 5 percent, it created 50 percent of the new jobs. So we didn’t solve the problem. Now, it’s up to the governor and the legislative body to figure out where it’s going to be spent.

We are writing a new bill. I’m suggesting to all the chambers and the boroughs in this community that they make their applications. I am going to continue to get earmarks — but we’ve changed the name. It’s now called constituent projects of interest. … But you have to pay for it.

There’s no wand, there’s no free lunch. If I want transportation, I’m willing to pay for it. The worst thing that occurred in the legislative body in the last year was taking eight cents a gallon tax off. Why is that bad? I’m fighting for a formula where we get the most dollars for every dollar put into that trust fund, and now we repeal that tax.

We’re the only state in the Union that doesn’t tax your transportation. I suggested to the legislative body, reinstate it, put it in a designated trust fund, and use it for transportation needs instead of taking it out of your general funds.

The reality is you have to take responsibility for your actions if you want results.