Energy Security
Actions speak louder than words – especially when it comes to energy policy
The president gave a speech on energy yesterday at Georgetown University, and like any political speech, there are some parts you agree with and some parts you don’t. Here’s one part of the president’s speech we can agree with: “Producing more oil in America can help lower oil prices, create jobs and enhance our energy security.” The question now is whether the president will back up his speech with action.
DOI’s “Use It or Lose It” report: Politics trumps common sense
The Department of Interior’s so-called “use it or lose it” report was delivered to the White House yesterday. Rather than being an unbiased analysis of the status of oil and natural gas leases in the United States, the report sadly perpetuates the misguided charge that the oil and gas industry is not developing its existing leases.
New natural gas possibilities
There’s an interesting story in yesterday’s New York Times about the growing potential for natural gas as a source of power generation, in light of the recent nuclear power incident in Japan. In the coming weeks and months, the discussion will continue – here in the U.S. and in countries around the world – about the decisions and investments that have to be made to meet future needs for reliable, affordable, and safe energy.
Let’s lose the “use it or lose it” rhetoric
Every few years, it seems one politician or another tries to deflect attention from the importance of opening up access to new U.S. resources by incorrectly accusing the oil and gas industry of withholding commercial production in existing leases. We’ve just seen this tactic used again. Yesterday, Senators Bill Nelson and Robert Menendez introduced what they’re calling the “use it or lose it” bill in the Senate.
Energy security – the real goal
Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be blogging about U.S. energy security and the ways we can strengthen it. This is a topic that interests many Americans, and particularly so at a time of international geopolitical unrest. The term “energy security” is often confused with “energy independence” – but they’re very different concepts. The reality is that pursuing energy independence would not enhance our energy security – and, in fact, could undermine it.
