State Representative Vig should be more informed

By Susan Shearer, Harvey, ND / Letter to the Jamestown Sun

As a state representative, Benjamin Vig should be more informed of the actions the North Dakota state government is taking to help address rising fuel prices within our state. While the biggest factor in fuel prices is the national and world oil markets, Gov. John Hoeven and his administration have done everything in their power to bring relief to North Dakota consumers.
For example, it was not long ago that Hoeven pushed for and received a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency to allow importation of Canadian winter blended fuel earlier than normal to address the fuel shortage, and he waived the hours of service for truck drivers hauling fuel into the state to help keep prices down. Above all, he has remained in continuous contact with regional refineries and pipeline authorities to insist that more fuel is shipped to our state and that fuel prices are kept at a more reasonable level.
His work in the energy sector, however, does not stop there. He recently chaired an Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission meeting, which was held in September to address these and other issues throughout the Rocky Mountain and Upper Great Plains regions.
Vig also ignores all the work the governor has done to promote alternative fuels, which help to bring down prices and promote less reliance on foreign oil. A few years ago, North Dakota produced less than 40 million gallons of ethanol a year. Under the Governor’s leadership, new facilities already operating and other plants that are now being planned and constructed will produce a half a billion gallons.
All of this was ignored in Vig’s recent letter, however, making it seem as though he is more interested in erroneously pointing fingers when his time as a state legislator could be better spent working with North Dakota’s leaders to help tackle such issues and expand North Dakota’s energy capabilities.
(Shearer is president of Harvey Sand & Gravel Inc.)