Posted on 03/08/2022 7:51:13 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
HOUSTON – Energy industry representatives pushed back on a comment from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Monday regarding unused oil and gas leases, accusing the Biden administration spokesperson of misleading Americans with a "red herring."
Fox News asked Psaki Monday why President Biden won't resume new oil and gas leases on federal lands. She responded that the United States is already producing oil "at record numbers" and said "there are 9,000 approved drilling permits that are not being used."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxbusiness.com ...
It isn’t often you can get a high paying government job lying to the American people.
She obviously doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground.....................
I’ve been wondering about her. Does the carpet match the drapes?
https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/blog/2022/03/04/the-red-herring-of-unused-leases
Kevin O'Scannlain
Posted March 4, 2022
Let’s address two claims heard about American natural gas and oil production amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.
The first, by some members of the Biden administration, including White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday, is that American oil and natural gas producers are sitting on hundreds of unused federal leases and thus do not need access to more. The second, by some industry opponents, is that ramping up U.S. production will not help the Ukrainian people today.
Psaki has made the claim about “unused” federal leases before. It has become a line the White House pivots to when pressed to explain why it isn’t doing more to support American oil and gas production – with soaring demand putting upward pressure on prices and with much of Europe at the mercy of its top energy provider, Russia. Key facts about federal leases:
* The law already requires companies to either produce oil and/or gas on leases or return the leases to the government – the so-called “use it or lose it” provision – generally in the first 10 years.* When a company acquires a lease, it makes a significant financial investment at the beginning of the lease in the form of a non-refundable bonus bid and pays additional rent until and unless it begins producing.
* For federal onshore, the Mineral Leasing Act prevents any one company from locking up unproductive excessive federal acreage.
* Developing a lease takes years and substantial effort to determine whether the underlying geology holds commercial quantities of oil and/or gas. The lengthy process to develop them from a lease often is extended by administrative and legal challenges at every step along the way.
The argument about “unused” leases is a red herring, a smokescreen for energy policies that have had a hamstringing effect on the world’s leading producer of natural gas and oil. It suggests American producers have been motivated by a desire to manipulate the market during the current crisis in Europe. This is false. American oil and gas producers are able and willing to do their part to support American energy leadership, including providing energy that can help allies abroad.
Ultimately, energy policies affect the energy investment climate. Specifically, they impact the ability of producers – typically accountable to shareholders – to take the risks involved in spending billions of dollars to find and develop oil and gas. Mischaracterizing the way federal leases work does not help foster new investment and risk-taking.
Now, for the second claim, about the usefulness of American energy to Ukraine. Technically, there’s some truth there because, indeed, increasing American oil and gas production will not help Ukraine today. The time for helping Ukraine with American energy was months ago. Then, Biden administration support for robust U.S. production might have helped deter Moscow from thinking that European nations dependent on Russian energy might do less to oppose Russia the aggressor.
Instead, the administration discouraged American energy. For more than a year it has halted new federal leasing – key to future energy investment and production. It canceled energy infrastructure, blocked development in parts of Alaska, entertained new taxes to punish the U.S. energy industry and chilled future investment by signaling that oil and gas wouldn’t be part of America’s future energy mix. All last summer, the administration called on OPEC+, the oil cartel, to increase its production more rapidly in the face of rising energy costs, bypassing American producers.
The current situation is a reminder that American energy abundance requires foresight and planning, investment and policy support. This is the path to sound energy policy that keeps America safe and strong and allows American energy to support allies.
Now is the time for the administration to fully get behind American oil and natural gas. President Biden strongly encouraged made-in-the-USA production during his State of the Union address this week – but omitted home-grown oil and gas. American-made oil and gas are the leading energy sources running the U.S. economy and, when exported, provide significant support for economies around the world. With Russian tanks encircling Kyiv and Russian artillery pounding Ukrainian civilians, the importance of American energy could hardly be clearer.
U.S. liquified natural gas exports are critical for today and tomorrow, because access to trustworthy energy helps nations address multiple challenges. API President and CEO Mike Sommers, in an op-ed on Fortune.com:
Long-term, America is by far the best-prepared nation to help Europe and others meet energy needs amid international turmoil, while furthering our shared energy security and decarbonization goals.
As Sommers noted in a recent blog, the administration should provide clarity on federal leasing and permit energy infrastructure. Most importantly, it should complete work on a long-term plan for offshore oil and gas development, to replace the one that expires this summer. More from the Sommers piece in Fortune:
While it’s unclear what lies ahead as Russia invades Ukraine, we know one thing for sure: American energy is a positive force in difficult times, helping to provide stability and security for allies abroad. … This is what we mean by “American energy leadership”: using abundant American energy as a positive influence that benefits America’s friends. This is exactly what the world’s leading producer of natural gas and oil should do, especially in times of turbulence.
About The Author
Kevin O’Scannlain is API’s vice president of Upstream Policy. Before coming to API, Kevin served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President in two different roles, and as Deputy Solicitor for Energy & Minerals at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Prior to that, he was an attorney for Chevron, DLA Piper LLP, and the U.S. Senate. O’Scannlain is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Notre Dame Law School.
“some permits are viable and some are not,” as a reason for why many are sitting unused.
Their brilliance was an illusion for anyone who bought it, all they have left is bull$tht.
Biden and his admin should just admit that they truly want no oil exploration, no drilling, no refining, nothing at all related to oil. And, that they’re so intent on this policy that they would rather beg dictators like Maduro or terrorist nations like Iran for oil.
Just stop trying to BS us.
1) Question was asked. 2) A BS answer was given. 3) Followup question and answer just muddies the water. By that time we’re on to the next subject. SOP.
There’s an easy way to punish Putin and save Americans money. Republicans don’t like it
Jamie Henn
The Independent
March 7, 2022
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/putin-big-oil-americans-gas-prices-b2030415.html
“..She obviously doesn’t know her ass from a hole in the ground..”
For sure, but the oil execs certainly “know” and called the evil, commie skag out on it.
Thinking back to Trump’s press conferences. From time to time he should of gone back and forth with ONE reporter over several minutes, thereby leaving the others shut out. After the one reporter gets put in his/her place Trump should say that’s enough and walk away. The reporter gets their time on the evening news shows and the rest of the MSM fight amongst themselves.
US exported gas and oil under Trump. US has to import gas and oil under F Joe. Prices sky rocketed. What changed? Any explanation other than F Joe is to blame is a damnable lie.
There is a plan on foot to sell Alaska back to Russia to they can drill for oil and bring it into the USA./s
i am not certain about that. it seems to me that it gives too much control to the rogue reporter, sets up other reporters to hijack press conferences, and aggrandize themselves at the expense of the president and the public. (jfk was fairly good at deflecting with humor which can be good but requires a special talent.) jmho.
“It isn’t often you can get a high paying government job lying to the American people.”
It seems to me there are a lot of such jobs. Every spokesperson for every health related agency, most congress critters, most of their staff, etc.
Ginger Goebbels Psaki needs to be banished to the oil fields.
Biden just repeated this rubbish in his speech about Russian oil. You know it’s BS because he emphasized how “These are facts! FACTS! 9000 leases!” Then he pivoted to the real reason for his obstinate posture— climate change and how we all should get electric vehicles. He is quite content with the cost of gas rising out of sight.
“From the horse’s mouth (the article you posted”
We have what Psaki said and what the article says. I still don’t know two things I’d like to know:
1. Can we extract enough oil from our own country to meet our needs. Can we do that right now?
2. Are we importing foreign oil because we don’t have enough of our own or because we do have enough but get a good deal right now for the foreign oil.
3. If we have enough oil for our needs, would we sell it to ourselves at a lower price or sell it to foreign buyers who’d offer a higher price.
Jen Psuki — Little Red Lying Hood — Peppermint Patty — America’s official red herring.
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