04/20/06 Energy security coalition

Farm and Ranch April 20, 2006 A broad and diverse group of Oregon businesses and natural resource trade associations have launched an ad hoc coalition to bring awareness to the rapid increase in natural gas prices and advocate for increasing the domestic supply. It is called the Oregon Consumers Alliance for Energy Security and is an off-shoot of a national coalition. The Oregon Wheat Growers League is part of the coalition and its executive director Tammy Dennee, says the immediate focus of the group is legislation in the U.S. Senate. Dennee: "The primary target right now for this coalition is to encourage the Senate to pass meaningful legislation to give us access to Oregon's resources and to resources within the boundaries of the United States. So, that is our primary focus is to pass that legislation." That's Senate Bill 2253 introduced by Republican Senator Pete Domenici and Democrat Jeff Bingamen, which would authorize additional exploration of natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has said the legislation would be the next energy bill to be debated and voted on in the U.S. Senate. Farmers of course have felt increased natural gas prices through the cost of the fertilizer they purchase made from natural gas, but the Oregon coalition includes other groups like Associated Oregon Industries, the Oregon Small Business Coalition and Northwest Industrial Gas Users. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.