Blaine, MN - Today as Rep. Michele Bachmann conducted interviews to promote ANWR drilling, challenger El Tinklenberg, former mayor of Blaine, toured the Sixth District to highlight Minnesota energy innovations that can reduce fuel costs and create jobs.
Joined by media and elected officials from across the district, Tinklenberg visited several sites including a Woodbury park-and-ride facility, the Sar-Tec algae biodiesel project in Anoka, the Elk River refuse-derived fuel plant, the future site of the Elk River Northstar Rail station, and Avon wind turbine contractor D.H. Blattner and Sons. Tinklenberg ended the tour with a door-knocking event in St. Cloud.
"Domestic drilling is at best a partial solution to America's energy crisis," Tinklenberg stated. "We can drill the south lawn of the White House and we will still only have 3 percent of the world's oil reserves, yet we are using 25% of the world's daily oil supply.
"We are not victims in this energy crisis. We have some control over the situation. We need to agree on a comprehensive plan that moves us toward energy independence through responsible drilling, increasing efficiency, investing in renewables, and decreasing consumption. That's what it will take to bring down fuel costs, steward our resources, and ensure America's long term energy security."
Tinklenberg's energy plan also includes a proposed $30 billion investment in America's transportation, transit, rail and environmental infrastructure. Federal Highway Administration data projects that a $15 billion infrastructure investment would create more than 712,000 jobs and $93 billion of economic activity.
Tinklenberg added, "7 of 10 barrels of oil in America go into transportation. Now more than ever, we need to create transportation options by investing in commuter coach bus service, commuter rails, and additional park-and-ride facilities. In our current economic chill, the job growth and energy-saving potential of this kind of investment is too great to ignore."
El Tinklenberg, candidate for Congress in Minnesota's Sixth District, is running against first-term Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann. Tinklenberg is endorsed by the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the Minnesota Independence Party, the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, and 28 labor groups.
