AARGH! Salazar Pledges "Wise Use Of Our Conventional Natural Resources" In Confirmation Hearing

[hatrack]

WASHINGTON – Sen. Ken Salazar said Thursday he would help wean the U.S. off foreign oil if he leads the Interior Department, telling lawmakers at his confirmation hearing that he would seek to expand renewable energy on public lands and promote the "wise use" of traditional energy sources.

Salazar, D-Colo., appeared before a Senate energy panel considering his nomination to head the agency that manages 500 million acres of public lands, protects wildlife and endangered species, and also oversees development of energy resources. Salazar said he would work "to make sure that we get energy independence, that we take the moon shot to energy we can take and we really set America free."

In a prepared statement, he said that would entail expanding solar and wind on public and tribal lands and also updating the country's electricity grid. But he added, "We must also make wise use of our conventional natural resources, including coal, oil and natural gas."

Salazar, who helped broker a deal to expand offshore oil production in the Senate, said that while it was appropriate in some areas "there may be other places that are off limits." He also said oil shale development in the West should not proceed recklessly, without studying the impacts on water and the environment.

EDIT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090115/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/interior_secretary;_ylt=AhyBhVovBXJmVuvwa8ZcUD8S.MwF

[kristopher]

1. It would be extremely wise to use it to keep holes in the ground from forming. nt