U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., stressed on Thursday the need for offshore oil drilling in the quest to solve the current energy crisis.

Barrett, R-S.C., spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference Thursday about a bill he is cosponsoring with other Republicans that would stress domestic oil production and assisting nuclear power plants to expand the domestic manufacturing base in that industry.

“This bill allows my state, if it chooses to do so, to explore,” Barrett said Thursday.

Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., introduced the Main Street USA Energy Security Act on May 8. The proposal focuses on moving toward energy independence and security by increasing the nation’s domestic resources.

A fact sheet about the bill notes that the United States imports 62 percent of its oil supply and predicts that will grow to 75 percent in two years.

The Republicans present at the event Thursday said that the energy bill passed last year didn’t provide enough alternatives, including oil shale and liquid coal. Without those, electricity prices will rise, according to the fact sheet.

The bill would authorize tapping into Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil reserves in Alaska and the outer continental self areas that now are protected by law from drilling.

Although states could limit drilling off their shores, the bill would not allow states to ban drilling at sites 100 or more miles off shore. States would share in royalties from leased wells.

The bill would direct the president to work with governors to increase domestic oil-refining capacity.

The bill also calls for research and development in coal, biomass and ethanol technologies and would give tax credits to provide incentives for renewable energy projects involving wind, solar and geothermal energy production.

“American’s are watching their paychecks disappear into their gasoline tanks, and the problem has only gotten worse in the past month,” Barrett said, according to a news release issued Thursday evening. “Congress needs an action plan to lower the price of gasoline, and the Democrats haven’t come up with a solution yet. This legislation is the first step to our country becoming energy independent – and not reliant on international energy supplies.”

Barrett is planning to speak to the public in three places in the Anderson area todayabout the bill. The planned times are:

*10 a.m.

M & N Quick Stop

3808 Clemson Blvd., Anderson

* Noon

Brushy Creek Foodmart

100 Crestview Road, Easley

* 2 p.m.

Bountyland Food Services

235 E. Main St., Walhalla