This is the type of legislation that Congress needs to pass. Legislation that reverses prior legislation that placed moratoriums on offshore oil exploration…

NEWS

For immediate release: June 10, 2008
Contact: Greg Schnacke, Americans for American Energy, 866-416-0659

Outer Continental Shelf Energy Is Key To Reducing Support For Foreign Terrorists, Group Says

Amendment In Congress This Week Would Also Help Reduce Gasoline Prices

LAKEWOOD, Co. (June 10, 2008) — Congress can strike a blow against foreign terror groups by opening up America’s Outer Continental Shelf to energy development, thereby reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and cutting the indirect funding of terror groups by nations that sell us their oil.

“Tapping America’s huge reserve of deep ocean energy helps us fight terrorism and increases our domestic energy supply, which will help put downward pressure on gasoline prices,” said Greg Schnacke, President of Americans for American Energy, a national grassroots group that promotes greater domestic energy production and less reliance on foreign energy.

Schnacke called on Members of Congress to support an amendment to be offered in a Congressional committee tomorrow by U.S. Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) to lift the current moratorium on energy development in the Outer Continental Shelf areas.

“America’s deep ocean energy reserves are estimated to hold more than 600 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas resources and 100 billion barrels of oil,” Schnacke said.  “That’s enough natural gas to heat 100 million homes and enough oil to replace Middle East imports for decades.”

“With Americans suffering at the gas pump and with higher energy bills, it’s a no-brainer that the OCS should be developed,” Schnacke said. “The technology exists to harvest this oil and natural gas in an environmental sound manner, and Congress needs to move forward and lift the anti-consumer roadblocks they have erected to this American energy.

The Peterson amendment would overturn a provision in a 1981 appropriations bill that established the current offshore leasing moratorium on energy exploration and production.

Schnacke noted that more than 80 percent of the oil and natural gas resources on the OCS are off-limits to exploration and production due to Congressional and other actions. But they are not off-limits to other countries, as Cuba has agreements with China and others that allow drilling only 50 miles from the coast of Florida. Cuba is taking advantage of a 1977 treaty that divided the Florida Straits to preserve each country’s economic rights.

“These are federal lands,” said Schnacke. “It’s amazing to me that other countries can reap the benefits of these resources just off our coasts, but we can’t,” Schnacke said.. “Our share of these resources belong to the American people and the American people need them. Higher energy costs are taking a toll on our economy and our hard-working families. They’re leading to higher costs for everything. Without access to the vast oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, our domestic energy production will decline and costs will continue to increase. Our nation and our people can’t afford that.”

The Peterson amendment would allow states to opt into allowing drilling between 25 miles and 50 miles off their coasts. Between 50 and 100 miles, states would have to pass legislation to block drilling. Beyond 100 miles, drilling would be allowed.  Peterson and others in Congress have said opening the OCS is key to increasing the domestic energy supply and helping keep prices in check.

“In a period of time, we won’t compete in the global economy,” Peterson said of the economic damage to Americans of higher energy costs. “We have the potential to become a second-rate nation.”

“Americans for American Energy has strong convictions regarding the need for this nation to develop and sustain a multi-dimensional federal energy policy,” Schnacke said. “Only through such a commitment can we assure our long-term national security and economic vitality.  Developing new supplies of oil and natural gas in America is essential to economic growth and to our nation’s energy security.”

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Contact: Greg Schnacke, 866-416-0659

Americans for American Energy
350 Indiana Street, Suite 640
Golden, CO 80401
info@americansforamericanenergy.org