Hall renews call for action on energy price crisis

GARDNERTOWN -- The second regional congressional representative in as many days is calling for national policy changes in oil company contracts and the release of oil reserves to help lower home heating oil and fuel costs as a short-term remedy in preparing for worst-case scenarios come this winter season.

Congressman John Hall (D-Dover Plains) held a news conference at Abbott & Mills Oil Heat in the Town of Newburgh Tuesday where he called on President Bush to draw down a portion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to immediately lower costs of home heating oil and fuel.  The last time the reserve was tapped it resulted in a nine percent drop in oil prices.

The price crisis is not hitting just the homeowner in the wallet. It is also taking its toll on fuel oil dealers, said Ralph Mills of Abbott and Mills.

“We’re trying to maintain a reasonable margin that makes sure that we’re here for the next season; it doesn’t do us any good to give something away in a bad season because we end up not even being here,” he said. “Money is very tight; banks are very skittish on lending money so it’s a very precarious situation. We have to make sure that we make at least one buck this year so we’re around next year to do the same thing and take care of the customer.”

Orange County Chamber of Commerce President John D’Ambrosio expressed his concerns about the fuel costs.

“It’s criminal what’s happening with oil prices.  We have small businesses this is really going to affect, and small business owners are also homeowners, they are getting kind of a triple whammy here.”

Hall also called on President Bush to force oil companies leasing public lands in the United States and off-shore to begin drilling for oil, or face penalties, and possible contract termination if guidelines to drill aren’t followed.

The Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands (DRILL) Act, if passed, will require companies leasing lands on over 68 million acres to “use it or lose it,” as Hall put it.

On Monday, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley) also urged President Bush to act on those two issues, in addition to congressional adoption of a second economic stimulus package and passing the Warm in Winter & Cool in Summer Act.

Hall joined Hinchey in blaming the Republican administration for not acting sooner on the energy crisis matters, and continuing to “play games.”