Sen. Klobuchar: If We Don't Develop Energy Technology, a Company in China Will

PARK RAPIDS, Minn - Senator Amy Klobuchar's week-long road trip to discuss energy, jobs and innovation made a stop at the Lamb Weston production plant in Park Rapids, Tuesday.

"This is an example of a company that has 400 plus employees and has found creative ways to save energy and create jobs," Klobuchar sad.

Lamb Weston uses the waste from its main product-french fries to supply 16% of the plant's natural gas.

Klobuchar said Lamb Weston's efforts will result in jobs of all skill level and are part of what she calls the "energy technology revolution."

"The energy technology revolution will create assembly line jobs, hard hat jobs and technical jobs," Klobuchar said.

But fitting plants with new energy efficient technology is not cheap for businesses, so Klobuchar said more tax credits are needed.

"I want to see more long term tax credits for businesses...They need an incentive," Klobuchar said.

Klobuchar hopes those tax credits become available and are used by businesses so they do not miss out.

"If we don't develop this technology a company in China will," Klobuchar said.

Written for the Web by Anthony Kiekow

akiekow@ksax.com