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WEST CHESTER TWP. — Three Ohio Republican congressmen promoted their party's energy plan — including opening land for oil exploration — Thursday, July 24.

U.S. House Minority John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp.,, Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, and Robert Latta, R-Bowling Green, recently visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., and the area on Alaska's North Slope which their plan proposes to open to oil exploration.

During a telephone conference with media members, Boehner said the two sides of energy production — investment in alternative energy technology and increased domestic oil production — go hand-in-hand to address rising energy prices.

Jordan agreed.

"I think on these energy issues the American people get it," Jordan said. "They realize we need more supply, we need all of the above," referring to the alternative energy technology under development at NREL.

Boehner said he felt confident exploration and drilling would have a minimal impact on the wilderness area, after seeing drilling technologies proposed for use on the North Slope

"It's clear from what we saw in Alaska that the environment and environmentally sustainable (exploration and production) can work together," he said.

"It's a lot different than it was 20 or 30 years ago," Latta said.

All three representatives said Democratic House leaders were making a vote on the energy plan unlikely before the August recess, but they expressed confidence about the plan's eventual success.

"I think when we come back in September, (the Democrats) will have heard enough from folks at home that's they'll get it," Jordan said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5127 or mcunningham@coxohio.com.