Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Dallas and Athens) visited Terrell yesterday to discuss legislative plans to deal with the rising cost of fuel.

Hensarling’s proposals include developing oil reserves in northern Alaska – which many congressional Democrats oppose – and shifting the focus on costly corn-based ethanol to more efficient and economically viable alternatives, including sugar cane-based ethanol.

He also encouraged the development of more domestic petroleum refineries and repealing the ethanol mandate and tariffs on foreign ethanol.

“There are challenges before us, and it’s not going to be easy,” Hensarling told the crowd of city officials and community members yesterday.

“But if we start producing more American energy in America, we can eventually bring the cost of gasoline back down.”