For Immediate Release
Contact: Justin Kitsch
202-461-2365
November 8, 2011
SAFE: Department of Interior's Five-Year Plan Could Do More to Strengthen the Nation's Energy Security
WASHINGTON – Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) said that the Proposed Program released today by the Department of Interior could have done more to improve the nation’s energy security by allowing additional access to federal waters for oil and gas development.
“Allowing access to develop more of our nation’s domestic oil and gas would directly contribute to our economic and national security. It is critical to develop these substantial resources in a timely manner and in a way that doesn’t compromise environmental standards,” said Robbie Diamond, President and CEO of SAFE. “The Outer Continental Shelf contains some of the most promising hydrocarbon resources in the world. Developing these resources more expeditiously would reduce the ongoing transfer of wealth from our economy to oil exporting countries and reduce the nation’s trade deficit. Increased spending on domestic energy resources would create jobs and increase both federal and state revenues.
“The 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident clearly necessitated a recalibration of the regulatory approach to offshore oil and gas production, “continued Diamond. “However, as we implement reforms, it is critical that the nation move forward with a balanced approach that recognizes the clear role that traditional sources of energy will have in powering our economy over the coming decades. The scale of potential resources in the Alaska, Pacific, Eastern Gulf, and Atlantic OCS planning areas—coupled with the seriousness of America’s energy security challenge—demands far greater consideration than that proposed by Interior.”
“In order to truly improve future U.S. energy security, additional production must be accompanied by a shift to alternative fuels, particularly electrification of the light-duty fleet. Electrification would take advantage of the stability of electricity prices, its diversity of supply, and its infrastructure backbone already exists. Addressing energy from both sides of the equation will give the country the energy security with which it can prosper,” said Diamond.