ANWR & National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
Winningreen ENERGY Alert
Democrats kneel to environmental lobby, spurn constituents on oil
By Gretchen Randall
Date: July 11, 2008
Issue: Democrats hear constituents’ demand for more oil exploration but are still trying to satisfy the environmental lobby by suggesting ideas that won’t help increase supply or bring down gasoline prices. Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA) has urged President Bush to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve which is set aside for “emergency” situations and not just when Congress refuses to increase supply. Democrat Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) says he is in favor of more production but not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) just east of Prudhoe Bay. He wants to open more of the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A) just west of Prudhoe Bay.
Here’s a bit of comparison between ANWR and NPR-A:
ANWR contains over 10 billion barrels of oil (possible 16 billion barrels) which can be accessed by using only 2000 acres. It is also within 75 miles of the already existing Alaska pipeline which caries oil from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. Since production in Prudhoe Bay has dropped, the pipeline has excess capacity.
The NPR-A’s oil fields, however, are scattered over 23 million acres — many more than 250 miles from the existing pipeline. Democrats’ new plan calls for leasing more of the NPR-A. However, currently, all lands in the NPR-A that are available to be leased under current government regulations have been offered for lease in the past or will be offered before the end of the year. To open more of the NPR-A would require Congress’ approval to exempt the leases from requirements of various environmental laws.
The NPR-A was initially opened to exploration by the Clinton administration in 1999 which touted the environmentally friendly way exploration could be done. The 1999 report is entitled "Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Technologies" and can be accessed at: http://www.winningreen.com/site/epage/42646_621.htm
Response: While over 60% of Americans favor opening new areas to oil and gas exploration, Democrat leaders in Congress continue to adhere to their environmental contributors’ wishes to let Americans suffer high prices and the economy languish.
Response: It’s inexcusable that Democrat leadership of Congress is holding several Republican bills from being voted on — bills that would open ANWR and areas off our coasts that most Americans want us to access.
Response: While additional supply wouldn’t happen immediately, the markets would see that America was serious about increasing its own supply and the future price of crude oil would fall.
Contact: Gretchen Randall
Winningreen LLC
3712 N. Broadway – PMB 279
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: 773-857-5086
e-mail: grandall@winningreen.com
Democrats kneel to environmental lobby, spurn constituents on oil
By Gretchen Randall
Date: July 11, 2008
Issue: Democrats hear constituents’ demand for more oil exploration but are still trying to satisfy the environmental lobby by suggesting ideas that won’t help increase supply or bring down gasoline prices. Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA) has urged President Bush to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve which is set aside for “emergency” situations and not just when Congress refuses to increase supply. Democrat Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD) says he is in favor of more production but not in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) just east of Prudhoe Bay. He wants to open more of the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A) just west of Prudhoe Bay.
Here’s a bit of comparison between ANWR and NPR-A:
ANWR contains over 10 billion barrels of oil (possible 16 billion barrels) which can be accessed by using only 2000 acres. It is also within 75 miles of the already existing Alaska pipeline which caries oil from Prudhoe Bay to the port of Valdez. Since production in Prudhoe Bay has dropped, the pipeline has excess capacity.
The NPR-A’s oil fields, however, are scattered over 23 million acres — many more than 250 miles from the existing pipeline. Democrats’ new plan calls for leasing more of the NPR-A. However, currently, all lands in the NPR-A that are available to be leased under current government regulations have been offered for lease in the past or will be offered before the end of the year. To open more of the NPR-A would require Congress’ approval to exempt the leases from requirements of various environmental laws.
The NPR-A was initially opened to exploration by the Clinton administration in 1999 which touted the environmentally friendly way exploration could be done. The 1999 report is entitled "Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Technologies" and can be accessed at: http://www.winningreen.com/site/epage/42646_621.htm
Response: While over 60% of Americans favor opening new areas to oil and gas exploration, Democrat leaders in Congress continue to adhere to their environmental contributors’ wishes to let Americans suffer high prices and the economy languish.
Response: It’s inexcusable that Democrat leadership of Congress is holding several Republican bills from being voted on — bills that would open ANWR and areas off our coasts that most Americans want us to access.
Response: While additional supply wouldn’t happen immediately, the markets would see that America was serious about increasing its own supply and the future price of crude oil would fall.
Contact: Gretchen Randall
Winningreen LLC
3712 N. Broadway – PMB 279
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: 773-857-5086
e-mail: grandall@winningreen.com