PRESIDENT’S ENERGY PLAN:

GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. FROM BUYING FUEL, TO DRILLING FOR OIL AND GAS, FROM ETHANOL PRODUCTION TO HARNESSING THE WIND, ENERGY IS BIG BUSINESS IN RURAL AMERICA.

NATURAL GAS:

THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN SEEKS TO INVEST 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN NATURAL GAS DRILLING RESEARCH. THIS WHILE PLACES LIKE NORTHERN PENNSYLVANIA, CONTINUE TO SEE A NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION BOOM THANKS TO NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE FRACKING. THE AP'S LEE POWELL EVEN FOUND DRILLING RIGS WIRED FOR REMOTE CONTROL FROM A THOUSAND MILES AWAY.

KEYSTONE:

NOT MENTIONED IN THE PRESIDENT'S ENERGY PLAN, THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE. THAT PROJECT WOULD ALLOW CANADA TO SEND MORE THAN 800-THOUSAND BARRELS OF OIL A DAY TO REFINERIES IN TEXAS. LAST WEEK, A BILL HIT THE SENATE THAT WOULD GIVE 'CONGRESS' THE POWER TO APPROVE THE PIPELINE. WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JAY CARNEY SAYS THAT DECISION ISN'T UP TO CONGRESS..IT BELONGS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSEMENT SHOWING THE PIPELINE WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY HARM. STATE OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION BY AUGUST...ALTHOUGH THE PROJECT HAS BEEN PENDING FOR FOUR YEARS.

INFRASTRUCTURE:

ALSO IN WASHINGTON, A FOUR PERSON BIPARTISAN TEAM IS ROLLING OUT A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING PROPOSAL. THE GROUP INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO BOTH HOUSES THAT ALLOWS PRIVATE INVESTORS TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE NATIONS' LOCKS AND DAMS. CURRENTLY THE AMRY CORP ESTIMATES A 60 BILLION DOLLAR BACKLOG IN OUTSTANDING PROJECTS. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE ISN'T GETTING ANY YOUNGER.

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