The 20 percent price hike Dow Chemical put into effect on its products last week could cause a variety of consumer prices to rise. But, said Stacey Chiasson of Dow Louisiana Public Affairs, it should not affect employment at the Plaquemine plant.

Dow, Iberville Parish's largest employer and taxpayer, raised its prices to offset the quickly escalating cost of fuel.

"Nobody likes to raise prices, but we're having to protect ourselves in the value chain," Chiasson said.

In 2002, Chiasson said, the Midland, Michigan-based company spent $8 billion for feedstocks and fuels. Last year, that rose to $25 billion.

"In 2002, feedstocks and fuels constituted about 29 percent of our total costs," she said. "Today, it's 50 percent and heading higher. We're projecting if oil stays at these levels, it could be about $30 billion in spending for us. It's just like you at home. It's just bigger numbers."

In announcing the hike, Dow Chairman and Chief Executive Andrew Liveris blamed the government for failing to develop a sound energy policy. "For years, Washington has failed to address the issue of rising energy costs, and, as a result, the country now faces a true energy crisis, one that is causing serious harm to America's manufacturing sector and all consumers of energy," Liveris said in a statement.

"Now, everybody is paying attention," Chiasson said. "We've got to do something about energy costs."

Dow produces chemicals used in a wide number of consumer products ranging from antifreeze, coolants and solvents, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to detergents, wastewater treatments and disposable diapers.

In addition to the price increase, Dow's CEO put out a "call to arms" to the company's employees to find ways of cutting energy use at Dow facilities, Chiasson said.

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