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Whitfield Sets the Record Straight on Energy

Press Release

Date: Oct. 17, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Oil and Gas Infrastructure

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, disputes President Obama's claims regarding his energy policies.

"The reality is that President Obama's plan for energy in America is causing Americans to spend more and more of their paychecks on meeting their energy needs," Whitfield said. "In contrast, we need a plan for North American energy independence that creates jobs by approving the Keystone pipeline and encouraging domestic production on federal lands, both of which President Obama has rejected.

"I hope the American people can see past the misinformation being offered by President Obama on energy. Our energy future is too bright not to strive toward North American energy independence."

According to the Congressional Research Service, since 2007 about 96% of the increase in oil production in the U.S. has been on non-federal lands. Additionally, oil production on non-Federal lands, an area not under President Obama's control, increased by an average of 385,000 barrels per day in FY2011 while at the same time, oil production on federal lands, an area under President Obama's control, fell by an average of 275,000 barrels per day.

North American energy independence is achievable, but any growth in this area is in spite of President Obama's policies, not a result of them. Some key statements include:

"The growth in drilling activity in recent years has been much more visible on private and state lands rather than federal lands, which reflects the more stringent regulatory scrutiny associated with federal lands," said John Freeman, Raymond James & Associates written testimony.

"...TransCanada's proposed 1,700 mile Keystone XL pipeline through the US heartland has made logistical sense to help reduce this congestion and build stronger strategic energy ties between the two countries. Notably enough, it was US politics not cost or technology that halted the $7 billion deal earlier this year." - Citi's Energy 2020 report


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