Shimkus Says Energy Bill Won't Solve Energry Issues CARBONDALE, IL (wsiu) - A Southern Illinois congressman says the energy bill in the U.S. house will not solve America's energy problems.
John Shimkus says too much is left out of the bill brought to the house floor. For instance, he says the measure fails to mention the importance of coal in meeting our nation's future energy needs.
Shimkus says the bill will not increase oil and natural gas supplies and could increase electricity costs.
He says the bill would not allow drilling within 50 miles of the shore. But the Collinsville republican says 88-percent of oil is found within that 50-mile range.
Shimkus says the bill also includes a mandate that private utilities generate a minimum of 15-percent of their electricity from renewable sources. But he says many areas of the country are not equipped for utilizing renewable sources at this time.
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