July 17, 2008  

OBEY VOTES FOR MEASURE TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION,
SUPPORTS LONG TERM PLAN TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Calling it “a commonsense, short-term approach to our energy problems,” Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) voted today for a bill intended to promote responsible domestic drilling and production of oil and natural gas, particularly in the 20 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.  

“The DRILL Act combines provisions that will make it easier to drill for the 10.6 billion barrels of oil in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska with a prohibition on the exportation of Alaskan oil – so that American oil will be used in America – and facilitates the construction of new pipelines to move Alaskan oil and natural gas to market. It also requires that Big Oil ‘use it or lose it’ on the 68 million acres of federal land they’ve already leased,” Obey said.

“I’m all for the oil companies drilling more, starting with the millions of acres in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf that are already available for leasing; but that’s just the first step,” Obey added. “We’ve got to put the American spirit that landed Neil Armstrong on the moon to work developing alternative energy sources so we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

To kick start that long-term battle, last month, Obey’s committee approved a large increase in federal investments into cutting edge alternative energy and energy conservation.

“We’ve got a long way to go with the legislative process, but we’re calling for $800 million more than last year for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, establishing new facilities for energy research, and providing for a billion dollars in loans to help American auto makers and their suppliers retool so they can build more energy efficient cars and compete with foreign manufacturers,” Obey said.

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