Rogers visits Pike County

Williamson Daily News, Williamson, WV

Writer: JULIA GOAD

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Congressman Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) visited Pike County Monday to tour two sites that are being considered for a new enterprise in Eastern Kentucky, a coal-to-liquid plant and an energy research center which will explore alternative energy sources.

Rogers traveled with Wayne T. Rutherford, Pike County Judge Executive, as well as representatives from several Pike County businesses and organizations, including Summit Engineering, who conducted the feasibility study of the project, and Big Sandy Community and Technical College.

The group traveled to Big Shoals, a site on a mountaintop with a postcard perfect view of the surrounding mountains. The plant Judge Rutherford hopes to build there will turn coal into liquid diesel fuel, and thus lessen the nation's dependence of foreign oil. They also went to Scott's Fork, the proposed site of a research center to be built in conjunction with the plant. The proposed research center location is on US 119, near the exit to Rt. 194.

Rutherford said Roger's trip to Eastern Kentucky was not indicative of any concrete plans. "We are not here to announce anything," Rutherford said. "We are here simply to show Congressman Rogers our plans. We do not want to jump ahead of ourselves."

"I am excited," Rogers told those attending the tour. "I like vision and bold thinking. Of course, there is more to be done. It is a hugely expensive new endeavor, and most of the funding will have to come from the private sector. We will have to see where it goes from here."

Rogers went on to say eastern Kentucky should be a part of the nations' energy plan. "We are the Saudi Arabia of coal," he said, referring to the coal reserves in the area. "We need to use anything we have to provide jobs and energy independence. It is a matter of national security. I would be thrilled to make this happen."

Rogers has co-sponsored the American Energy Act, which would open Alaska's wildlife preserves to drilling, as well as create new offshore drilling sites and invest money in wind, solar and coal-to-liquid energy.

But, he says Congress is blocking progress in these areas by refusing to pass the legislation.

Rogers blasted Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic congress in Washington for doing what he feels is too little to alleviate the nation's current energy crisis. "We want the President to call on congress to get back to work solving our energy problems," he said. "We have an energy bill that is the answer to some of those problems."

Although Congress has recessed for the summer, Rogers said wants them to return from recess to discuss the Energy Bill.

"She [Pelosi] has shut down the process, because of the drilling issue," he said. "She is just selling her book." He blamed some of the lack of progress with the American Energy Act on the influence of Pelosi's constituents. "Radical environmentalists from San Francisco have got her by the neck," he said. "I am banfoozled by it."

As to whether the process of going forward with the CTL plant will depend on the Presidential election in November, Rogers said although he knew Republican candidate John McCain's stand on some energy issues, he could not speak for Democratic hopeful Barack Obama. "I know McCain supports drilling," he said. " I don't know what the other candidates have said. You'll have to read about them yourselves."

Judge Rutherford said he hopes the project would help to stabilize the mining industry, which is historically a less than dependable business. "If we can produce 50,000 barrels of oil a day, the coal business would become stable," he said. "We could secure our future."

The judge said one company, which he could not name, has already expressed an interest in locating near the plant.

Rutherford went on to say he feels plans positive about the progress made so far in the plans for the energy center. "It will be a great asset," he said. "We are well on our way. This is our time."