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Tour includes stops in Watauga, Forsyth, Surry, Yadkin and Iredell Counties

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today embarked on a three-day Energy Independence Tour across North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District to hear from constituents about how high energy prices are impacting them and to learn how some are using alternative energy to lower energy costs.  Foxx kicks off the tour with a visit today to Appalachian State University’s Solar Homestead project in Boone, NC.

“High energy prices are a major drag on our economy,” Foxx said. “Constituents all across the Fifth District have taken a hit from the high cost of energy.  That’s why I’m spending the next three days focused on learning how energy costs and federal energy polices impact my constituents.  I’m eager to hear how businesses, local governments and North Carolina families are dealing with the high fuel prices and how some are exploring alternative energy sources.”

In addition to her visit to ASU’s Solar Homestead project today, Foxx will also visit local farms, small businesses and regional transportation providers.  On Thursday Foxx plans to learn how Carolina Heritage Vineyards in Elkin, NC is using alternative energy to power its vineyard and winery operation.  She will also visit Hemric Farms in Yadkin County to see how high fuel prices and federal ethanol policies are impacting the bottle line of a local poultry, cattle and tobacco farmer.

On Friday Foxx will learn about how fuel price increases are affecting regional transportation providers and will ride a regional bus route across the Fifth District from Boone, NC to Winston-Salem, NC.  Foxx will also tour the facilities of a local trucking company in Statesville, NC and discuss with company employees how fuel prices affect the company’s ability to invest and hire new workers. 

“We need an all-of-the-above energy policy that embraces conventional energy sources and alternative energy sources,” Foxx said. “America has depended on Middle Eastern oil for too long.  By developing more American-made sources of energy—both conventional sources like oil and gas and alternatives like wind, solar and biofuels—we can stop the flow of dollars to anti-American petro-states that do not have our best interests in mind.  I’m excited to learn more over the next three days about how we can create better energy policies and lower prices for hard-working North Carolinians.”