WASHINGTON, D.C.  -  With high energy costs continuing to hurt East Alabama’s economy, Congressman Mike Rogers said today he introduced a bill to lift the ban on energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), and direct royalties and taxes collected into a new renewable fuels research and development fund.

Rogers says he hopes the bill, H.R. 6758, the Furthering Renewable Energy and Exploration or FREE Act, will help advance the energy debate in Congress and encourage bi-partisan support for helping lower energy costs over the long term. The bill has 30 cosponsors, including all members of the Alabama Congressional delegation.

“Our nation must become free from our dependence on foreign oil,” Rogers said. “While this legislation is just one of many solutions, I hope the FREE Act helps encourage Congress to act soon to pass a forward-looking, progressive energy policy that helps strengthen our economy and lower the cost of energy.”

Rogers explained the bill has two primary goals. The first is to lift the ban on environmentally safe energy exploration in ANWR to help increase domestic energy supplies. “By lifting this ban, in a few years we can begin to rely more on American oil, rather than petroleum from foreign nations,” he said.

Second, Rogers says the bill would direct all federal royalties and taxes collected from ANWR drilling sites into a new Energy Independence Trust Fund. “We will not drill our way to energy independence, which is why Congress should back up its commitment to energy independence with a steady, dedicated funding source for home grown renewable fuel development.”

He said East Alabama institutions like Auburn University and Tuskegee University, which are already on the cutting edge of alternative fuel research, could benefit from grants funded by ANWR drilling revenues.

Rogers stressed that the bill is but one piece of the energy puzzle when it comes to creating a new national energy policy. A combination of renewable fuels, increased domestic energy exploration, and wind and solar-generated power will all help.

Rogers added that he was deeply disappointed Congress left town today without voting on a proposal to lift the ban on ANWR and Outer Continental Shelf energy exploration. “With gas at $4 a gallon and our economy struggling under the weight of high energy costs, how could Congress not vote on this common sense solution for helping reduce our foreign oil dependence?” he asked.

Rogers serves on the Committee on Agriculture, the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee.
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