Plans are underway for upcoming rallies to be held in Canton, Ohio, on September 7 and Farmington, N.M. and Joliet, Ill., on September 8. In the meantime, check out the video below from yesterday's kick-off rallies in Texas.

Thousands of America's energy workers attended the rallies in Houston, Port Arthur and Corpus Christi, and many expressed their sincere concern for America's energy future.

More than 5,500 energy workers and private citizens packed the George R. Brown Convention Center as well as two venues in Port Arthur and Corpus Christi today to stand up for jobs and the economy.

With thousands of jobs threatened by the offshore drilling moratorium, proposals for higher energy taxes, and a faltering economic recovery, people whose jobs and livelihoods depend on the oil and natural gas industry came together to send a message to Congress and the administration: They will make their voices heard in Washington and at the ballot box.

Why is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in such a hurry to grant a waiver allowing E15 to be sold in the marketplace?

E15 is a fuel blend containing 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline. At present, only blends containing up to 10 percent ethanol are permitted, but ethanol producers are pushing for higher ethanol content. EPA has indicated it will make a decision on E15 this fall, despite the fact that scientific research on the fuel won't be completed until 2011.

Thousands of people from all walks of life are expected to participate in rallies for jobs and the economy tomorrow, Sept. 1. They will gather at three venues in Houston, Port Arthur and Corpus Christi, Texas, where they will make their voices heard.

Some of the attendees are likely to be energy workers whose jobs are on the line due to the offshore drilling moratorium and the threat of higher energy taxes. But they won't be the only people who attend.

In today's episode, I interview Stephen Comstock, API's tax policy manager, about proposals from Congress and the administration that could raise taxes on the oil and natural gas industry. If enacted, these taxes would have a negative impact on the U.S. economy and the industry.