Foster calls for bipartisan energy bill at press conference

BATAVIA - U.S. House Rep. Bill Foster on Monday announced his support for a bipartisan energy bill that calls for more domestic oil drilling and the development of alternative energy sources. “There is a useful compromise here,” the freshman Democrat said during a press conference Monday in front of his district office in Batavia. “In the long run, we will not drill our way out of this problem.” The Natural Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act was introduced into a House committee July 31. Foster said he was one of the original sponsors of the bill, which now has the support of 119 Democrats and Republicans. “Skyrocketing gas prices have hurt everyone,” Foster said. “We need to decrease our dependence on foreign oil.” The