Our weekly update to unravel the industry and political spin around the energy debate
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
FOIA ISSUED ON FLAWED EIA STUDY
Last week, The Checks and Balances Project, Greenpeace and Oil Change International filed a FOIA request to determine if House members used budgetary threats to force the Energy Information Administration to release a deeply flawed report on energy investments. Acting Administrator of the EIA, Howard Gruenspecht believed the report’s production was unduly influenced by demands placed by elected officials, who receive significant campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry.
THE MARKET HAS SPOKEN: TIME TO END OIL SUBSIDIES
Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) said the market should determine when subsidies should go away. Well, the market has spoken. The nation’s deficit is running wild, and it’s time to end $15 billion a year in government handouts to the oil and gas industry. With ExxonMobil’s profits up 41 percent from Q2 2010 and Dutch Royal Shell’s 97.7 percent multi-billion dollar increase from the same time, it is time for Congress to prevent American families from suffering at the pump.
VITTER TAKES ON THE ADMINISTRATION FOR LEASES
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) is attempting to force the Administration to approve even more oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico by blocking the nomination of Rebecca Wodder for Interior’s assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks. All this grandstanding despite the fact that the DOI continues to move forward with granting leases to drill and 70 percent of its offshore leases, as well as 57% of onshore leases — and over 7,200 onshore drilling permits — go unused by Big Oil.
DID YOU KNOW?
BLM REFORMS CREATE EFFICIENCY, CERTAINTY FOR OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
The Salazar onshore leasing reforms, which ensure better planning and review of oil and gas development, are already producing positive results for industry and the public. In 2011, only 8 percent of protests on leased parcels have been filed – this is down from an average of 36 percent over the last six years. Oil and gas representatives can bid with more certainty now, knowing they are less likely to face a legal battle in court. Seems industry should be sending BLM director Bob Abbey a big “thank you” card for these reforms.
COMING UP THIS WEEK
DEFINE IMPARTIAL
As the so-called “super committee” begins to take shape, two dozen public interest and watchdog groups are asking Congressmen to halt all political fundraising and contact with lobbyists while they are tasked with finding $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reductions. The pledge would mean full transparency on any contact with Big Oil – which has untaxed profits and billions in subsidies at stake.
CONTACT
Twitter: @checksandbals | Email: [email protected]
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