House GOP Uses Storms to Ease Energy Laws

AP ^ | 9/28/5 | H. JOSEF HEBERT

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Legislation that would end the longtime ban on energy development along most of the country's coasts and open an Alaskan wildlife refuge to oil drilling advanced Wednesday in the House.

Opponents said Republican leaders were exploiting the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to pass pro-industry measures that they failed to get included in an energy bill signed into law only two months ago.

It is a "leave no oil company behind" wish list that will damage the environment and do nothing to ease high gasoline or winter heating costs, said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass.

Attempts by Markey to strip the offshore development and drilling provisions failed, both by a 28-14 vote, in the House Resources Committee. The committee then approved the energy legislation 27-16.

The bill will be combined with proposals intended to spur expansion of construction of refineries — an idea being worked on Wednesday by a different House committee.

The effort to allow natural gas drilling of the U.S. coast attracted support from Republicans and Democrats. But some Democrats said it would be years before any of the fuel would become available.

The proposal from Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., applies only to natural gas. The legislation would allow states to approve oil drilling off their coasts.

Since 1981, oil and gas development has been off limits in virtually of the coastal waters outside the central and western parts of the Gulf of Mexico. That was due to environmental concerns or worries in Florida and elsewhere that such development might hurt the tourist industry.

The coastal areas contain huge resources of natural gas . "We can't wait any longer," Peterson said.

"We're in the middle of a full-fledged natural gas crisis" after the two hurricanes that disrupted natural gas production and processing, he said.

[SmithL]

Ill wind, huh?

[MNJohnnie]

Legislation that would end the longtime ban on energy development along most of the country's coasts and open an Alaskan wildlife refuge to oil drilling advanced Wednesday in the House.

Excellent make Hillary and the other heros of the Moveon.org gang actually put their votes down in front of God and everybody.

[editor-surveyor]

Looks like they're doing something right; too bad it took two hurricanes to move them.

[Decepticon]

Opponents said Republican leaders were exploiting the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to pass pro-industry measures that they failed to get included in an energy bill signed into law only two months ago.

Yea, $3.50 a gallon gasoline tends to make even the liberals wake up and take notice......

[rdb3]

The effort to allow natural gas drilling of the U.S. coast attracted support from Republicans and Democrats. But some Democrats said it would be years before any of the fuel would become available.

The proposal from Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., applies only to natural gas. The legislation would allow states to approve oil drilling off their coasts.

Since 1981, oil and gas development has been off limits in virtually of the coastal waters outside the central and western parts of the Gulf of Mexico. That was due to environmental concerns or worries in Florida and elsewhere that such development might hurt the tourist industry.

Sounds good to me. That's where the decision should be made anyway.

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[coconutt2000]

To think nobody is calling on the liberals to stop using the storms to promote their environmental agenda which is based on unproven science.

At least we know that drilling in Alaska will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help stabilize our energy prices in the long run.

[F16Fighter]

Wow!

Mark one domestic "achievement" down for the GOP.

Better late than never...

[gatorgriz]

When people start to freeze this winter the shiny will definetly come off the enviro-nazis sales pitch. 30 years and no new refineries? 25% of the nations exisiting refineries located on the Gulf coast? And God only knows how many different type blends of gas we make in this country these days; I suspect it could be as many as 50, maybe more. Why can't we have 10 or less (preferably 3; regular, mid-grade, and premium nationwide)?

It's time for some sanity and common sense... And no I'm not a pillager of the enviroment either. We're the most technologically advanced nation in world history; let's apply that technology!!!

[MNJohnnie]

Wow! Mark one domestic "achievement" down for the GOP. Better late than never...

Taxcuts? 2 SC Justices? Partial birth Abotion ban?

[F16Fighter]

"Taxcuts? 2 SC Justices? Partial birth Abotion ban?"

Heck -- if the GOP can't get PBA passed with the House majority, it'd have been shocking.

The verdict on the SC is a crap-shoot.

The tax break? Fine -- IF federal expendentures hadn't reached the stratosphere.

They WILL be going up...AGAIN. The alternative is printing more monopoly money.

[elli1]

The effort to allow natural gas drilling of the U.S. coast attracted support from Republicans and Democrats. But some Democrats said it would be years before any of the fuel would become available.

BS. Here's a quote from Alexander's Gas & Oil connections on a deep offshore natural gas discovery:

26-07-04 Newfield Exploration announced a deep shelf discovery at West Cameron 77, located about 10 miles offshore Louisiana in about 40 feet of water. The West Cameron 77 #1 well encountered approximately 120-inch of net gas pay in two zones between 16,800-17,600 inch. The well was deepened to 19,603 inch (18,500 inch vertical depth) and encountered an additional zone that appears to have possible pay over a large gross interval.

This zone will be evaluated during the completion stage. Newfield is evaluating development plans for the discovery and expects first production from the field in early 2005.

To recap: Newfield announces a discovery of a deep natural gas find late July '04. Well was not yet 'complete.' Production expected in early 2005. Yet 'some Democrats said it would be years before any of the fuel would become available'.

[AMERIKA]

"that will damage the environment and do nothing to ease high gasoline or winter heating costs, said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. "

I love it when politicians make statements like this with no corroboration. No environmental studies any FACTS to actually prove what they are saying.

Prove to me Ed Markey, that this will damage the environment, and do nothing to ease high gasoline or winter heating costs. Come on....prove to me that what you say has any veracity. I guess you are an expert on what you contend. When was the last time a natural habitat has been destroyed by oil drilling? Oh, that’s right, we haven’t been ABLE to drill new wells for how long? And the wells we have now, we hear every day how they have destroyed the environment. You are a master in Economics also? LOL!! I bet you drive a Volkswagon?

[JasonC]

Great, one committee has approved a common sense measure. Now pass it already and sign it into law.

[Morgan's Raider]

Markey and most of the other bolsheviks who throw up opposition to domestic drilling live in areas that depend largely on- guess what?- heating OIL to stay warm during their often ridiculously cold winters.

Now, if I ran an oil company, I would flood the states with cooperative Congressmen and Senators with cheap gasoline, and put a premium on heating oil in the northeast liberal bastions (with a system of rebates to FReepers, of course).

Of course, if the gubmint were going to operate any new wells and refineries, Markey, Kennedy, Kery and the rest of the politburo would be all for it.

[ChildOfThe60s]

worries in Florida and elsewhere that such development might hurt the tourist industry.

Well, the tourist industry is going to go in the crapper anyway as high energy prices and the resulting recession they cause (closer than we think folks) exact their toll.

This Florida / Gulf drilling baloney is not about tourism anyway, never was. Another enviro-socialist smoke screen.

Besides, no one could see platforms from the beaches now anyway. The Red Tide is so bad, the beaches are worthless.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Rep. Ed Markey

Is that a typo? I thought it was Malarky. /snicker

[Capt. Tom]

Not in my backyard. - Tom

April 18, 2001 From Kelly Wallace CNN Washington Bureau

NEW BRITAIN, Connecticut (CNN) -- Three days after his brother became president, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush appealed to the Bush administration to cancel a planned auction of offshore oil and gas leases in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, according to a spokeswoman for the governor.

Jeb Bush, who made the same appeal to the Clinton administration, sent the acting interior secretary a letter January 23 and then followed up with a face-to-face meeting with Interior Secretary Gale Norton in February, Katie Bauer, the governor's communications director, told CNN.

The governor, who was in Washington for a National Governor's Association meeting at the time, told Norton he opposed off-shore oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida, Bauer said.

"We will and have always opposed any offshore oil and gas drilling," said Bauer.

[VeniVidiVici]

After seeing how two major hurricanes did not cause massive oil spills by existing rigs and platforms, maybe we can convince Jeb otherwise now.

[rmlew]

They should nationalise gasoline standards. The refineries are hamstrung by having to produce over 100 different types of gasoline and diesel. Instead of allowing judges and states set emmisions standards, Congress should regulate it. This is an inter-State trade issue.
We could have a set of standards for gasoline and diesel to address a few distinct environments. They could be a "smog" standard like that in LA. There could an urban standard for less polluted cities. We could have a cold standard for winter in northern states. Finally, we could have a Regular standard, which would be equal to or higher than the current mean standard.
Companies could still make "regular", premium, super premium, and sport car mixtures, so long as they met the appropriate standard.

[Schwaeky]

or if nothing else but to please environmental moonbats, take the strictest cleanest standard (with diff for winter vs summer blend) and make that the national standard... make it simple.. not complicated...