Joe Heck on Gas Prices

The Problem:

One of the factors that will determine the pace of our economic recovery is the price of oil and gasoline. Everyone, from small business owners to busy families, relies on gasoline to produce and distribute products, commute to work and travel to family vacations.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Fuel products account for nearly 9 out of every 10 barrels of petroleum used in the United States. The leading fuel, motor gasoline, consistently accounts for the largest share of petroleum demand. Demand for motor gasoline alone accounts for more than 44 percent of the total demand for petroleum products." Clearly, this level of demand cannot simply be replaced by renewable energy sources.

The Solution:

More domestic energy production would mean lower prices for you at the gas jump and a more robust economy. It's simple supply and demand. We need an all-of-the-above energy policy that includes natural gas, domestic oil production, nuclear and renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, and geothermal. If we invest in American-made energy we will create job opportunities in Nevada and throughout the country, be less dependent on foreign energy and lower energy costs for consumers.

What I am doing:

I recently voted for H.R. 3408, the Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security (PIONEERS) Act, which passed the House of Representatives on February 16, 2012. This legislation implements an oil shale leasing program that will finally provide the regulatory certainty needed to allow the potential of domestic oil shale to be recognized as we continue working to bolster our domestic energy resources.

I am also a strong supporter of the proposed Keystone pipeline that will safely transport oil from Alberta, Canada to Houston, Texas. This project would have the capacity to deliver up to 900,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The pipeline would  immediately create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs, reduce our dependence on oil from unstable and sometime unfriendly countries, and lower prices at the pump.

Recently, I sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar urging him to reduce the restrictions on offshore drilling exploration that were in the five-year plan  released by the U.S. Department of the Interior for offshore oil and gas exploration. The department's plan does not open any new offshore areas to exploration, and my letter insisted he reassess his position as not opening new areas for exploration will drastically impede our efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and force gas prices to remain high.

Useful Links

To find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood, visit GasBuddy.com or use Mapquest.

For useful tips on how to increase your vehicle's gas mileage, click here.

To calculate the cost of an upcoming trip or vacation, click here.

If you are interested in what determines the cost of gasoline, click here.