FARMERS AIR WORRIES OVER ENERGY CRISIS

Though he couldn't estimate how much, Don Summers said high energy prices have hit him in the pocketbook, making it more costly to operate machinery he needs to work his 400 acres of corn and wheat in rural Cape Girardeau County. It is a problem with which all farmers have to contend.

"I'm no worse off than anybody else," Summers said. "But the bigger you farm, the more it hurts."

U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., said that while all aspects of the national economy are being impacted by rising energy costs, farmers are feeling it the most.

"There is nobody who is more affected by energy than farmers," Bond said. "You who are farming are bearing the brunt."

Bond and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, met with nearly 30 farmers Saturday to discuss national energy policy and President Bush's proposal for dealing with the crisis. The gathering took place at the home of Paul Summers along Route K, adjacent to the land farmed by Don Summers, his brother.

Renewable fuels critical'

Both lawmakers said increased use of renewable fuels such as corn-based ethanol and soy diesel would have the double benefit of increasing fuel supplies while expanding the demand for agricultural commodities.

"This is critical and would be a win-win situation for farmers," Emerson said.

Bond said fuel that includes agricultural products is cleaner burning than standard fuels, and therefore less damaging to the environment.

"Today's technology means we no longer have to choose between more energy production and a healthy environment," Bond said. "We have the scientific tools that allow us to boost energy production in a way that still safeguards the environment."

Bond blamed the Clinton administration for policies that tightened supplies by reducing oil, natural gas and electricity production. Those policies included restricting use of federal land for energy production, raising taxes on energy sources and stringent regulation of producers, Bond said.

"The pain every Missourian feels at the gas pump today is the direct consequence of not having had an energy plan for the last eight years," Bond said.

Bond said that in the past 25 years no new oil refineries have been built. During President Clinton's term in office, 36 existing refineries shut down, Bond said.

Losing power

In referring to rolling power outages that have been experienced in California due to energy supplies insufficient to keep pace with demand, Bond poked fun at his fellow Senate Republicans.

"We Republicans in the Senate know something about the loss of power," said Bond, alluding to the impending defection from the GOP of Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont, a move which will tilt the balance of Senate power to Democrats.

Bond said Senate Republicans' loss of Jeffords and their majority means Bush's energy plan will face a harder battle in Congress.

In the House of Representatives, where the GOP has a six-vote advantage, Emerson said the bill will likely pass. However, Emerson said there is a significant block of moderate Republicans who could join Democrats to fight some aspects of the proposal, particularly Bush's call for allowing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge In Alaska.

"But I suspect most of the president's plan will be looked on favorably by Congress," Emerson said.