Clyburn and Alexander Address Energy in the Pee Dee

Congressman James Clyburn and Representative Terry Alexander held a press release on energy policy today at Clemson University's Pee Dee Research and Education Center.

Ann Timberlake and the Conservation Voters of South Carolina and Dr. Laurie Lawson of Clemson University represented the sponsors for the conference.

Reverend Alexander started the press conference focusing on the importance of the African American community to engage in the climate change conversation.


Dr. Lawson presented the opportunities of 'green power' in the Pee Dee region, describing many plant materials including switchgrass as fuel sources.


Congressman Clyburn, an advocate for the past ten years for alternative fuel sources such as switchgrass, began by stressing that the U.S. energy policy needs to be a proactive and visionary process and has the opportunity to create new economies. He also warned that misrepresentation of facts is a big challenge for the energy conversation when referencing a recent conversation about offshore drilling.


He likened the idea of increasing domestic offshore drilling the "methadone treatment" to wean off of foreign oil.

The Congressman then talked about human health and its inextricable ties to the quality of our air quality and water supply.

So, now it's your turn to tell us how all this fits into the County's Comprehensive Plan (especially the Future Land Use Plan), tree preservation code language and other programs to increase the quality of our air, water and life.