The answer, Senator Kerry noted as he announced legislation to develop of a task force to investigate the inexplicable cost of energy and the record profits of energy companies, is aggressive oversight and enforcement. He pointed to the Enron debacle as the result of the absence of accountability measures, and emphasized the need for stricter controls.
Sen. Kerry held a Senate Small Business Committee field hearing yesterday in Pittsfield MA on the very serious topic of real solutions to the energy crisis and its impact on consumers and especially on small businesses.
At the hearing, "The Rising Costs of Energy: Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses", Senator Kerry and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley heard testimony from witnesses about how local small business have been devastated by skyrocketing prices, forcing some businesses to lay off employees or shut down completely. The energy crisis has hit hard across the country, but especially in Western Massachusetts, where electricity costs are well above the national average.
Oversight is key, as Senator Kerry noted, to controlling the record profits of energy companies, and the Bush administration has repeatedly refused calls to investigate.
In addition to controlling costs by holding energy companies accountable, Senator Kerry spoke of the need to look to alternative energy as a solution to our long term needs, and heard testimony from small business owner Jeff Sharp of Sun Ethanol. The Senator emphasized the benefits of clean, renewable energy as a solution to both the energy crisis and the climate crisis as well as a source of new jobs to help boost our struggling economy.
Ben Garver of the Berkshire Eagle was on hand to supply video of the hearing.
** Mr. Garver has asked us to remove the Youtube embed of the hearing, though according to the Youtube Terms of Service, use of the Youtube embed code in this blog is a permitted use.
Video Credit: bengarver
In addition to the hearing, Senator Kerry spoke with Capital News 9 about energy prices, the presidential race and about Ted Kennedy's plans for cancer treatment. The story and video is at their website.
