Egypt Unrest Spurs Call for U.S. Oil-Production Boost

[Joanne98]

Source: Bloomberg

Protests in Egypt seeking the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, which help push benchmark Brent crude to its highest level in more than two years, prompted Republican lawmakers to urge a boost in U.S. oil production.

“The current political unrest in Egypt and its unstable neighbors strongly reinforces America’s need to reduce our dependence on turbulent regions of the world and produce more energy at home,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, a Washington Republican, said today in a statement. “Our national security goes hand in hand with our energy security.”

Oil production from waters deeper than 500 feet (152 meters) has been stalled since BP Plc’s April spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar lifted the ban on Oct. 12, and the agency has yet to issue a permit allowing companies to resume deep-water exploration.

“I want to see coastal Louisianans allowed back to work finding and recovering our domestic energy sources,” Representative Jeff Landry, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement Jan. 29. “A conflict in the Middle East can erupt and hold our economy hostage because the president is fantasizing about an oil-free green energy policy.”



Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-31/egypt-unrest-spurs-call-for-u-s-oil-output-boost-policy-action.html

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The Republican filth will use any excuse to bring back "drill baby drill".

The citizens of the Gulf Coast need to start organizing now to block this!

[villager]

1. Those red, job-starved citizens of the gulf coast will go along with this, I'm afraid...

..and only the next, bigger "BP" will give them pause.

[AlbertCat]

2. bring back "drill baby drill".

Ignoring the fact that off shore oil does not go directly to the USA.

BP stands for "BRITISH Petroleum" after all.

It goes on the international market just like every other drop of oil.


How about a call for massively reducing our dependence on oil from anywhere and getting super serious about alternative green energy sources?

[Psephos]

3. A D Congress and a D White House couldn't get super serious about alt energy.

That was a last, best hope, and they didn't get it done.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

[PurityOfEssence]

4. Funny, that adds up to ADD

The harsh reality here is that we HAVE to have new forms of energy storage; there simply isn't enough oil. It's ridiculous to not literally yell this from the rooftops.

[bhikkhu]

5. Any excuse to beat that old drum...n/t

[glinda]

9. All Rethugs nationally are on message. Kill and destroy everything!

[LawnKorn]

6. I agree, we need to reduce or dependence with an Apollo program for clean, renewable energy

Being dependent on foreign sources for our energy needs is not good policy for National Security. What we need is an unlimited supply of energy from the sun, wind, and waves.

More drilling is only a stop gap until Peak Oil undercuts the entire petroleum industry. The countries invested in wind and solar will rule the day.

[Lorien]

8. +1,000. It's the only logical answer. nt

[Lorien]

7. Dems should be calling for massive green renewable energy projects

to get more Americans back to work, along with a National high speed Maglev monorail line...but once again the repugs are driving the issues. :banghead:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Egypt produces 1/14th the amount of oil that the U.S. does.

[Joanne98]

11. I know it's a FAKE alert.