A natural gas platform off the coast of Fort Morgan, Ala. America’s ban on offshore drilling was meant only for the deep water, yet rules created in the wake of the BP disaster appear to have halted numerous projects at safer depths where most of the industry works. (AP/Rob Carr)
Jack Gerard, President of the American Petroleum Industry, released this statement on Monday following the news that the Obama Administration intends to assist the Brazilian oil industry while they continue to obstruct oil development here at home.
Via the Energy Tomorrow blog:
API President and CEO Jack Gerard said the administration’s offer to exchange batteries for oil from Brazil reflects its inadequate and illogical energy policy:
“It is beyond comprehension the administration would encourage trade for Brazilian oil while obstructing U.S. oil and natural gas development, eliminating related jobs here at home, and decreasing oil and natural gas revenues to the U.S. Treasury when the government is trillions of dollars in debt. The message from the White House to America’s oil and natural gas workers: we’re going to outsource your job.
“The administration is missing the obvious: what makes sense for Brazil also makes sense for the United States. Like every other nation, we should be developing our own oil and natural gas resources. It’s good for energy security, good for the economy, good for jobs, and it will help bring down our deficit.
“The administration says it supports more oil and natural gas development here in the United States, then at every turn discourages it. And today, the White House is making a deal with Brazil for the oil it is not allowing companies to produce here. There’s nothing wrong with buying Brazilian oil, but there’s a big problem when we’re forced to because we’re held back from producing our own.”
API represents more than 470 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America’s energy, supports more than 9.2 million U.S. jobs
19,000 jobs worth $1.1 Billion in wages were lost nationallly since Obama implemented his offshore drilling ban.
More… Obama betrays American people, intent is to buy oil from Brazil
