Peña: Drilling won't reduce energy prices until 2030

“Senator McCain (R-Ariz.) is not going to help solve this energy crisis, because frankly he helped create it”, said Federico Peña, who served as both the Secretary of Transportation and Secretary of Energy under President Clinton. Peña spoke on a conference call to discuss McCain’s energy strategy, calling it “more of the same”.

Peña went on to say, “[McCain] blamed our dependence on foreign oil on the inaction of politicians in Washington, but he’s been there for the past 26 years and he did very little.” He also said that McCain has talked endlessly about drilling in the protected parts of our country like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), despite reports from the Bush administration’s energy department that have shown drilling there would only reduce oil costs to Americans by a few cents. In addition, Peña said the energy department estimated that the small decrease in price would not come about at all until the year 2030.

Peña also attacked McCain’s plan for energy independence by saying that any reduction in price caused by increased production from the United States would be met with OPEC nations reducing their levels of production of oil to keep prices high. As such, he advocates investing in renewable sources of energy that are not subject to price fluctuations determined by foreign governments.

Congress passes bill for 'National Plumbing Industry Week', but no energy reform

"Hearing [Nancy Pelosi's] name and 'president' in the same sentence makes me sick!" exclaimed Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) today on the floor of the House of Representatives. He and his fellow Republicans continued their speeches protesting Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) decision to call the Congress into recess.

"This is an ineffective Congress, I'm embarrassed to say", said Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-N.J.). He went on to describe legislation passed so far in the 110th Congress, including a bill creating "National Passport Month" and another designating "National Plumbing Industry Week". However, it is common for every session of Congress to pass these pieces of symbolic legislation. He said he advocated a diversified energy solution that utilizes both renewable sources of energy and allowing expanded oil drilling in coastal regions and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). In a recent interview with CNN, Speaker Pelosi said that she would be open to holding a vote on energy reform that would expand drilling.

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) said that during Hurricane Katrina, no oil spills occurred. He went on to say that this is a testament to the safety of these oil rigs for the environment. Pitts also said that if more oil refineries were built within the US, which hasn't happened in over 30 years, hundreds of thousands of new jobs could be created.

Rep. Dave Weldon (R-Fla.) said that since the construction of the Alaska Pipeline, the state's caribou population has tripled despite environmental reports warning of harm to the animals. He credits the pipeline with keeping the caribou warm during extremely cold weather, thus contributing to the resurgence of the population.

Rep. Terry: "hot air" from democrats could heat our homes

"Animals are getting under the Alaska pipeline to keep warm!" Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said this afternoon in defense of opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil drilling. Republicans joined Burton on the floor of the US House of Representatives today to continue their push for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call an emergency session of Congress.

Burton also expressed a sense of urgency for Americans to find energy independence. "If you think the Saudis are our friend, you've got another thing coming," he said. Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) echoed Burton's sentiments, also calling out proposed solutions from the Democrats as "hot air". "We could probably make ourselves energy independent right there," he said. "If we use the hot air from the Democrats to heat our homes."

In regards to Speaker Pelosi and her decision to call for a 5 week recess in light of sky-high fuel prices, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said, "I know she didn't mean to do this, but our Speaker is the best friend OPEC's got."

Sen. Voinovich: America must "harmonize our energy"

Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio.) while hosting a conference call this morning discussed  his belief that the continuing high cost of oil is not only affecting Americans daily life but our national security. Voinovich commented that numbers released by the Office of Budget and Management (OMB) showing America's deficit had climbed 750 billion dollars means that the country is not only at a financial disadvantage but a national security risk. Voinovich also noted that the national debt at the end of this year is estimated to be at ten trillion dollars. 

A key sticking point for Voinovich is the continuing funneling of money to Arab states which have repeatedly harbored those who wish harm towards the United States. Voinovich commented by saying "we're sending 600 billion dollars overseas to a lot of people who don't like us including Venezuela. In effect these people control the price," said Voinovich. Adding, "from my stand point we are in real jeopardy," said Voinovich.

According to the Stanford University Modeling Forum which Voinovich cited, the odds of a foreign oil disruption happening over the next ten years are slightly higher than 80 percent. If global production were reduced by more than 2.1 percent that would have a serious effect on oil prices and our economy. This would be more than  Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

To curtail the dilemma of the United States being tied to terrorist countries for oil, Voinovich argues that America needs a plan similar to the Apollo plan put forth by President Kennedy. Voinovich believes that America must "harmonize our environment, our energy, our economy and now it's our national security" for more energy production.
It has been Voinovich who said he was a staunch supporter of increased oil drilling in America especially in ANWR to lesson America's dependence on foreign oil. 

Hoyer: Democrats are for drilling

"Democrats are for drilling," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D- Md.) Hoyer explained that House Democrats agree with the public's desire to devote resources to oil drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), oil reserves in the continental United States, and the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (not to be confused with Arctic National Wildlife Refuge--ANWR-- in Alaska.) Hoyer said that the disagreements between Democrats and Republicans arise from where to drill for more oil. "If there's a place to drill, let's drill," he said referencing acres of the OCS that have already been leased to oil companies. Democrats don't necessarily want to drill where Republicans want, he said.

Hoyer said that while the price of oil per barrel has gone down almost $30, the price at the pump has not gone down to where the pain is not felt by his constituents. Hoyer also suggested that drilling in ANWR was something that Republicans are enthusiastic about, but that oil companies may not be. "I don't know that oil companies have contacted me about ANWR, I don't know, maybe they are not interested in drilling there," Hoyer said.

Hoyer also implied that Republicans are simply paying "lip service" to the causes of renewable and alternative sources of energy, when he cited a quote from Maryland Republican Roscoe Bartlett who was quoted in the Politico as saying of Republicans, "They're giving lip service to [alternative energy]...The only thing they emphasize is drilling."