JO ANN EMERSON HOSTS ENERGY SUMMIT IN SIKESTON

SIKESTON, Mo. -- "You can take a depressed message back to Washington," Jerry Pullen of Pullen Brothers Trucking told U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson. "Rural America is hurting."

Pullen did not mince words when it came his turn to testify at Emerson's Energy Summit at the Sikeston Higher Education Center on Tuesday. The congresswoman called the summit to hear from utility corporations and to provide a public forum for constituents before making a recommendation to Congress on a federal energy policy that addresses energy shortages and soaring energy bills.

Pullen, of Sikeston, reported that his business is over $300,000 in the red after being hit with this year's increased costs in petroleum. Because so much of the overhead is petroleum-related -- fuel, engine oil, tires, grease and power steering fluid -- Pullen said those in the trucking industry have been particularly bled by the rise in energy costs.

"Something has got to be done to consume this monster that we have no defense against," he said.

Farmers hard hit

In summit literature, Emerson noted American reliance on foreign oil, the shortage of nitrate fertilizer for U.S. farmers, budget-breaking natural gas bills, and California's power crisis as areas of concern.

With increased fuel and fertilizer bills, said David Herbst of the Missouri Farm Bureau, "farmers are getting hit with a double whammy."

And considering the current value of crops, some at a 20- to 30-year low, he said, the Missouri farmer is crippled.

"It's tough now. It's been tough," said Herbst. "But this is really throwing a wrench in our operation."

Kevin Mainord of the Delta Growers' Association agreed.

"If this situation doesn't change, we may have to change occupations," he said.

Emerson asked a panel of utility company officials, "What are we supposed to tell these people here who can't pay their bills?"

No easy answers

Craig Nelson, vice-president of the AmerenUE utilities corp., said that federally-imposed price caps on utilities is not the solution.

"There's only so long a utility company can pay $10 and pass on $5," he said. "I don't think bankrupt utility companies benefit consumers."

Nelson cited state regulation mandating that Am-erenUE cannot profit from natural gas prices, but can only pass on a delivery charge for the invisible gas -- compensation for the company's investment in hardware such as compressors, wellheads, odor injectors, and dehydrators.