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Energy bill gathers steam
Thornberry pushes for drilling in Alaska, off Florida
More Local News WASHINGTON -- A West Texas congressman's energy bill has been gathering support as public opinion has been leaning toward increasing energy exploration overall and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Against a backdrop of mounting pain at the pump, U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry's "No More Excuses" energy bill calls for drilling ANWR and the outer continental shelf as well as extending the wind-energy tax credit 10 years.
Thornberry, R-Clarendon, said the recent Pew Research Center poll makes his point.
"The American people support the development of more of all sources of domestic energy -- including oil and gas in areas the Democrats and their radical environmentalist allies have put off limits," the 13th Congressional District representative said.
By Thursday 153 representatives had signed a petition to leverage House Resolution 3089 onto the House floor, bucking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's authority.
That's still 65 short of 218 signatures needed.
Most Republicans have signed the petition, and when Congress returns from the Fourth of July recess next week, the push will be on to get the Democratic signatures needed to bring the bill to the floor, Thornberry said in a media release.
A Pew poll of 2,004 adults conducted June 18 through June 29 found that half supported drilling in ANWR. That's up from 42 percent in February.
Nearly half -- 47 percent -- put the highest priority on increasing mining, drilling, building power plants and conducting other types of energy exploration -- not conservation and regulation of energy use and prices, a Pew Center media release said.
In February, 35 percent gave energy exploration as their preference.
The latest survey results show a turnaround on energy policy priorities from opinions expressed in polls going back to 2001.
But environmentalists and many Democrats oppose exploration in ANWR and the outer continental shelf. They're concerned about the toll it would take on the environment.
Thornberry's Democratic opponent, Roger Waun of Wichita Falls, was vocal in his opposition.
Conservation is a better answer for America, he said. Conserving energy will reduce oil imports and make more petroleum products available.
It's the big oil companies that would profit from drilling in ANWR, a move that would only slightly whittle down the cost of a barrel of oil, Waun said.
He said there's no better chance for the legislation today than a year ago when Thornberry first introduced the bill.
"Many of those members who have districts that would be impacted by offshore drilling, for example, will never agree to it," Waun said. "Their economies depend upon tourism, and they don't want their coastlines or beaches fouled."
Thornberry's legislation won support from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, which sees it as a safe, reliable way to produce more domestic energy by increasing refining capacity and domestic drilling.
Thornberry hopes the bill will gain enough support from representatives to make it to the floor for a vote.
"The last ones are always the hardest," he said.
Republicans and others might be concerned about drilling in Alaska, and Florida congressmen "have been a little standoffish" over exploration off the state's coast, he said.
But energy prices aren't going down, Thornberry said.
"So the need to get a vote is not diminished," he said.
Gasoline was at nearly $3.96 a gallon for regular unleaded Thursday in Texas, according to AAA. That's up about a dollar from a year ago when it was $2.85.
The other members of the West Texas delegation -- U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, and U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock -- are among several Texans supporting Thornberry's bill.
June 10, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, a Michigan Republican, filed a motion and petition with the House clerk on Thornberry's bill. Walberg seeks to discharge the Natural Resources Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, and the Energy and Commerce Committee from having to consider the legislation. That would free it to come to the House floor.
Posted by Dinner_4_2 on July 6, 2008 at 2:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When did the enviormentalists start running the country? Its time for common sense to return to America. Thank you Mr Thornberry for coming forward and saying enough is enough. The high price of fuel and what it is doing to people is not a rep/dem thing. This is hurting all Americans.
Posted by sadler on July 6, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So, what good will come from this bill? There was no mention of providing for energy solutions beyond petroleum. At best, this bill will allow us to squander what resources we have left (and might need in times of crisis) without providing a long term solution.
Gasoline in the U.S. is still only about half the price in western European countries. I am against exploring the ANWR until we learn to conserve, start thinking environmentally, and develop a long-term energy policy.
Posted by ropers40 on July 6, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We have to start lookin at alternative fuels and get the oil mindset out of our heads.
I am amazed when you have people on tv talking about how we are years from developing a vehicle that runs on something other than gas.
This is the USA and we have the knowledge to do anything in a short time, look at how long it took the Manhatten project to bring the world into the nuclear age. It can be done, but i fear that big oil will do all it can to stop a push from fossile fuels.
Posted by Dinner_4_2 on July 6, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Any of you who think we can run on no oil are dreaming. Its in every aspect of life today. Its not just gasoline. :until we learn to conserve and start thinking enviormentally: TELL THAT to CHINA!! For them the oil boom is on and they are going after it big time. sadler,you make it sound like we are down to the last drops of oil. I'm sure you havn't sold your car yet,so there must be some oil left. When I see you walking instead of driving, I'll believe you. I might even give you a ride in my truck. A/C on full blast. As for the Europeans paying what they pay, I DON'T CARE what they are paying! I care about what AMERICANS are paying. Our team,our people. The demographics of Europe are different from here and there are many over there that use cars for weekend use only. Shorter distances,people who work close to home. Try that here in suburbia. I guess I'm one of those people who is "not" ready for the Obama socialist change. Go ahead, blast away,I've got my flak jacket and helmet on!
Posted by Harvuskong on July 6, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For those who support the Florida Offshore Drilling Ban because of the tourist trade, if the tourists can not afford to get to Forida because of high energy prices, it is a moot point then.
It is a moot point anyway because as it has been reported that the Cubans have offshore drilling rigs in operation in the area between Florida and Cuba.
Do you really think that the Communist Cubans really care about Florida's Offshore Drilling Ban??
I do not remember any reports about the tourist industry on the Texas Gulf Coast being destroyed because of the offshore drilling in Texas waters.
Posted by whatif on July 6, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Drilling now, won't lower the price later....A poster made a good point, let's use up our oil driving our big cars around so we won't have oil for anything else. Keep believing ANWR will lower the price, it won't. By the way, China only uses about 5 million b/d, and imports less than half.
Posted by up_in_here_2 on July 6, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love it, Republicans quote polls showing we need to drill, yet ignore the polls which say americans want out of Iraq. Republican montra... get all the money you can and keep the people stupid.....
Posted by sadler on July 6, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dinner_4_2:
Not sure I'd accept a ride from someone wearing a flak jacket and helmet. And I am already walking (or biking) instead of driving. I have a vehicle but it's often "for weekend use only". It's simply a matter of choosing a place to live that's close to work, shopping, church ...
If you choose to live in suburbia, you have to be prepared to pay for the cost to commute. Sure, we still have petroleum left but (by most estimates) we've already used more than half of what can be recovered and the remainder will become more and more expensive to produce. $4 gasoline was inevitable, as is $5, $10, $20 ... It's just a matter of time and, depending on circumstances and the actions we take now, it may be sooner than you think.
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