U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' ENERGY BRIEFING EXPOSES MYTHS AND REALITIES OF DOMESTIC OIL DRILLING

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today hosted a briefing with energy experts that took an in-depth look at America's energy crisis and claims regarding the impact domestic oil drilling might have on the price of gas.

The two-hour briefing, Energy Crisis Myths and Realities: Working Toward Common Sense Solutions, was organized by Giffords to provide southern Arizonans with the facts about drilling and realistic steps to lower gas prices. Despite the recent drop in fuel costs in Tucson and across the country, Giffords said Arizonans are rightfully angry at Washington's inability to develop a national energy policy.

"In order to arrive at the best policy solutions, my constituents and all Americans deserve the facts, not gimmicks or false promises," Giffords said. "That is why today's was important."

Meeting at the University of Arizona, the experts directly challenged the contention that increased drilling in Alaska or offshore would immediately lower gas prices. They agreed on the need for a transition to alternative fuels and renewable energy.

"For months I have been calling for more domestic drilling as one important way to respond to the energy crisis and further the goal of energy independence," Giffords said. "But let's not kid ourselves. Experts from the oil industry, the university and even the Bush Administration's Department of Energy agree that if we open up new areas to drilling today, we would not be able to pump a single drop into our gas tanks for at least seven years. And even then it would not be enough to have a significant impact on gas prices."

According to most of the energy experts at today's briefing, global demand for oil is too great and the amount of untapped oil in the United States is too small for an increase in domestic drilling to be a miracle solution to high energy costs. They also emphasized the necessity of investing in alternative sources of energy.

"We have to be open-minded," said former Southern Arizona congressman and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall, one of the six experts who took part of today's briefing. Udall called on political leaders "to do something wise" and not allow energy policy to become a "political football."

Giffords agreed, saying that promoting alternative sources of energy like solar cuts across party lines. "When a successful Texas oilman like T. Boone Pickens tells us that we must look seriously at renewable sources of energy, we should take him seriously," Giffords said. "T. Boone Pickens knows a lot more about the oil business than most members of Congress."

Matthew Simmons, an investment banker whose company specializes in dealing with oil companies, has in the past said it was a "cruel hoax" to think that drilling could immediately lead to lower gas prices. At today's briefing, he said the United States must start reducing its dependence on foreign oil and looking for viable sources of alternative energy.

Dr. Paul Portney, Dean of the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management, called for greater fuel economy standards and increased research into new types of vehicles and alternative fuels.

The other participants at the briefing were Dr. Joaquin Ruiz, Dean of the University of Arizona's College of Science and a professor of geochemistry; Reginal Spiller, Vice President, Frontera Resources and former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Energy; and Dr. Wes Ward, Former Western Regional Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey.

Following the briefing, Giffords called on Congress to immediately begin the transition to a new energy future by passing a compromise bill that takes into account all good faith proposals.

"Politicians must stop the partisan rhetoric and get past the gridlock so we can give Arizonans and all Americans what they want - a bipartisan energy bill," Giffords said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate are putting together compromise energy proposals. Giffords considers this a step forward and wants to see a major energy package on the House floor as soon as possible.  "There is no time to waste," she said. "The energy crisis confronting our country is too serious."
 
In Giffords' view, passage of a bipartisan energy bill is essential to the transition to a new energy future. The bill should:

• Invest in alternative sources of energy such as solar, wind, geothermal and wave technology;
• Extend the renewable energy tax credit for at least eight years to advance solar projects like the one near Gila Bend that will produce energy for 70,000 homes;
• Require oil companies to drill on the federal land on which they already have access;
• Fast track leases for drilling on 20 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska;
• Reinstate the ban on exporting U.S. oil to foreign countries;
• Release 70 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which in the past has lowered gas prices; and
• Work with Canada to build the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.

In addition to these provisions, Giffords acknowledged that a limited amount of new offshore drilling could also be part of a bipartisan compromise energy package.

"As we heard from the experts at today's briefing, increasing domestic drilling, alone, is far from the panacea that some politicians would have us believe," Giffords said. "It will not have an immediate impact at the pump or solve our nation's energy crisis. My goal is energy independence. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass a bipartisan bill that achieves this goal."