Columbia Missourian: As the nation’s reliance on foreign oil increases, the four candidates for the 9th District seat in the U.S. Congress are contemplating how the nation can begin creating alternative energy sources and become more self-sufficient and self-sustaining. In 2009, the nation consumed 18.8 million barrels of petroleum products per day, according to the National Resources Defense Council. To keep up with this demand, the U.S. imported about 3 million barrels of petroleum products per day. Blaine Luetkemeyer,…