Todd Tiahrt: “So now we are trying to expand the ones we have now and accelerate the permit process. It was opposed by 176 Democrats.…”

“So now we are trying to expand the ones we have now and accelerate the permit process. It was opposed by 176 Democrats. They did not want to see our refineries expanded, because they knew that would reduce the price of gasoline, and they are opposed to that. They smile when the gasoline prices are up; they frown when gasoline prices are down. They also opposed the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act. This is where we drill more than 100 miles off the shores of America. And 156 Democrats, including the Democrat leadership, opposed this bill of expanding our production so that we could reduce the cost of energy in America. The Democrats have no plan for reducing energy other than just saying we are going to get rid of imported oil. Well, how do you do that? You have to impose, what, restrictions on trade? No, the better way to do it is to allow the free market system to work, develop new technologies, like cellulose ethanol. I met this morning with a Kansas company that is going to develop a new technology for cellulose. And I want to tell you about that for a minute. Cellulose, or excuse me, ethanol today is produced from the kernel of a corn, is the example I use. The kernel of a corn. Once it is processed, there is a by-product they take to the feed lot, and it is very good for the cattle. Right now, the cost of ethanol is somewhere around $2 to produce, sometimes it is $3, based on how much they can get for their by-products.…”