Upton: no ‘magic bullet’ to reduce gasoline prices

Published 10:14 pm Wednesday, May 14, 2008

By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES – U.S. Rep. Fred Upton is seeking both short- and long-term solutions to high gas prices, which hit $3.99 in Dowagiac Tuesday.
"On I-94, all along the way in the prices were $3.85," Upton told the Niles Daily Star when he stopped in for a few minutes Monday morning.
Talking at a recent town meeting in Kalamazoo, Cass County's congressman said, "Every question was about energy."
"The solutions he seeks are "in light of some bad mistakes," he added.
He cited President Bill Clinton's ban on drilling in Alaska, which would by now be producing 1 million barrels a day.
Congress also voted against giving permits for using oil shale out West in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, he said.
"With stable supply and increased demands, the price goes up," he said.
Both India and China have been dramatically increasing fuel use.
Upton suggested that instead of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determining the blend of fuels, there should only be two or three.
Presently, Detroit, Chicago and other metropolitan areas might each have different acceptable blends.
Reducing this number and making just a few standard would lower other costs for refining time and shipping, he added.
Upton also would personally like to see nuclear output doubled.
Another plan is to help automobile manufacturers' research and development with making autos more fuel-efficient.
This would "help a lot to keep jobs in Michigan," he added.
"We need greater exploration of alternative fuels," Upton said.
While he was being interviewed, Upton received a message from a high official at Northwest Airlines.
The fuel price on Friday was $159.92 per barrel – an all-time high.
"What doesn't energy price impact?" he questioned.
There has been a 60-percent, or $1.39, increase since January of last year, he said.
Going back to Washington D.C. early, Upton hoped to be part of a bipartisan coalition to "reverse some damage."
"This issue is not going to go away. We need long-term solutions, knowing full well there is no magic bullet," he said.
He was also excited to be meeting with Dean Kamen, whose inventions the Segway, the first insulin pump and an all-terrain electric wheelchair.
Upton will be talking to him about his water purification system, which could be able to use cow dung to generate power and purify water in developing countries.
Kamen is also the founder of an organization which encourages students in science and technology, including the Lego and robotics competition.