Contact:
Marc Morano 202-224-5762
marc_morano@epw.senate.gov
Matt Dempsey 202-224-9797
matthew_dempsey@epw.senate.gov
Inhofe: Energy Bill Would Decrease Energy
Prices, Increase American Jobs
WASHINGTON,
DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.),
Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today joined with
Senate Republicans to introduce common sense legislation to address the
skyrocketing costs of energy prices on Oklahoman and American families. Rather
than raise taxes, block production, increase regulations, and call for
investigations, the Domestic Energy Production Act of 2008 actually
addresses the nation’s current energy crunch by delivering real energy
solutions. It would increase access to domestic supplies, expand the
nation’s refinery capacity, and promote market-based alternatives for our
energy future. Importantly, the bill includes key provisions
of Senator Inhofe’s Gas Petroleum Refiner Improvement & Community
Empowerment Act of 2007 (Gas PRICE Act), legislation that is designed to
improve the permitting process for the expansion of existing and construction
of new refineries.
“I am proud to join with my Republican colleagues
today to introduce common sense energy legislation that will bring down the
price of gas at the pump and the cost of energy in our homes,” Senator
Inhofe said. “Just four months ago I voted against a Democrat energy
bill because I believed it failed Oklahoma
and the nation by doing nothing to address skyrocketing energy costs. Absent
from the Democrat ‘energy’ bill was any attempt to increase domestic energy
resources – such as oil, natural gas, nuclear and clean coal technologies –
that are essential to securing an American energy supply that is stable,
diverse, and affordable. There should be no surprise that Congress is
racing back to action as gas prices continue to rise.
“In stark contrast to the Democrats’ 2007 energy
bill, the legislation introduced today would not only help relieve the rising
costs of energy, but would increase jobs in Oklahoma and the nation. Our bill
seeks to decrease the price of energy by putting Americans back to work by
exploring and developing domestic energy resources and increasing domestic
refining capacity.”
Increasing Domestic Refining Capacity
“Any legislation to bring down the price of gas at
the pump must address domestic refining capacity. I am pleased that key
provisions of my Gas PRICE Act legislation have been included in this bill. The
provisions are designed to improve the permitting process for the expansion of
existing and construction of new refineries. The bill establishes a 360-day
deadline for the approval or disapproval of consolidated permit applications
for new refineries and a 120-day deadline for permits to expand an existing
refinery. This bill will put an end to the outsourcing of U.S. refining capacity and U.S. jobs.”
Increasing Domestic Energy Exploration
“Increasing domestic energy exploration is also
essential. Currently, oil and gas exploration and production is prohibited on
85 percent of America’s
offshore waters. Canada, on the other hand, allows offshore drilling in
the Pacific, Atlantic, and Great Lakes.
Additionally, Cuba is looking to expand drilling which could occur within
45 miles of parts of Florida and with technology that is much less
environmentally sound than that used by American companies. If President
Clinton hadn’t vetoed legislation allowing environmentally sensitive
exploration on the Coastal Plain of ANWR 10 years ago, today we would have 1
million additional barrels of oil a day coming from ANWR, which would mean
lower gas prices for consumers and more energy security. The Domestic Energy
Production Act of 2008 allows for environmentally sensible drilling in ANWR.
It also allows individual States to decide if drilling should be
permitted in their offshore waters. Its enactment would allow American
companies such as Oklahoma based Devon and Conoco Phillips to increase our domestic
supplies, make the nation more energy secure, and keep American jobs and
dollars at home.”
Section 526 Repeal
“I am also pleased that our bill includes the repeal
of Section 526 of the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007. Three weeks ago I introduced legislation repealing
Section 526, which prohibits federal agencies from contracting to procure
nonconventional, or alternative, fuels that emit higher levels of greenhouse
gas emissions than ‘conventional petroleum sources.’ I worked to include
language in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, recognizing that unconventional
fuels such as oil shale and tar sands developed in the U.S. and Canada
are strategically important and necessary to develop to reduce the growing
dependence of the U.S.
on foreign oil. Despite the potential enormity of the provision’s consequences,
no public hearings, discourse, or examination occurred before its inclusion.
The scope of fuels that could be prohibited is left wide-open to
interpretation, including fuels such as Canadian oil sands, E85 ethanol, and
coal- and natural gas-to-liquids fuel, which has powered B-52H bomber aircraft
at Tinker Air Force Base. I’m particularly concerned that Section 526 could
limit the diversity and supply of fuel for our nation’s Air Force and other
military branches. Our military could be forced to obtain a greater percentage
of petroleum from unstable regions of the world, endangering our ability to
quickly and economically obtain much-needed fuel to conduct operations vital to
the defense of our nation. At a time when our troops are involved in two
large-scale foreign conflicts, our military must have the flexibility to secure
and develop alternative sources of fuel.”
Ethanol Mandate
“This week I also urged the President and Congress
to take swift and meaningful action to help mitigate the damaging impact of our
nation’s irresponsible biofuels mandate. Several Senators on both sides of the
aisle have now spoken out on the need to find ways to address this problem. The
drastic increase in the biofuels mandates was yet another failure of last
year’s Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007. Congress must have the courage to address this issue
and address it now.”
Related Information:
Inhofe
Demands ‘Dramatic’ Action to Address Food vs. Fuel Mandates
INHOFE
BILL TO REPEAL DAMAGING ENERGY PROVISION
SENATE
PASSED ENERGY BILL FAILS OKLAHOMA
Link
To The Gas PRICE Act
Link
To Gas PRICE Fact Sheet
Top
Ten Democrat Energy Bill Failures
DEMOCRATS
REJECT INHOFE AMENDMENT TO BRING DOWN PRICE OF GAS AT PUMP
