Where’s the Energy? One-Year Later, De Facto Ban Remains in Place

IER Joins Speaker Gingrich, Broad Group of Consumer-Focused Groups, Congressional Leaders to Renew Call for More American Energy

Washington, DC – One year ago today, partly in response to the urging of the Institute for Energy Research (IER), President Bush abolished the 18-year old unilateral presidential ban on responsible offshore American energy production along the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). While one year has passed, America’s vast offshore energy resources still remain untapped, and under a de facto federal ban. IER’s president, Thomas J. Pyle – who was joined at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol today by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and other congressional leaders – issued the following statement:

“Lifting the outdated, outmoded, outsized presidential ban on safe American energy exploration and production one year ago was long overdue. But while its elimination was an important step toward the prospect of future energy development, the federal government’s recent actions ensure that a de facto ban remains in place.

“This anniversary should not only serve as a reminder to the American people, and to their elected officials in Washington, that increased energy production creates good-paying jobs at a time when they are most needed. If we’re serious about lowering energy costs and making our nation more energy secure, we must embrace and aggressively produce every single form of energy possible, especially offshore oil and gas.”

READ MORE

• Click HERE to view the June 12, 2008 letter from IER to President Bush, urging him to life the OCS moratorium.
• Click HERE to view the June 12, 2008 IER release: IER Calls on Bush to Tear Up Executive Drilling Ban
• Click HERE to view a July 10, 2009 letter to President Obama regarding offshore domestic energy exploration.
• Click HERE to view: Offshore Energy Exploration: Myth vs. Fact

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets. IER maintains that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges and, as such, are critical to the well-being of individuals and society.
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