SEEC: To address high gas prices America needs a new energy policy, not misleading slogans

WASHINGTON, DC - This week House Republicans will continue their legislative agenda to increase irresponsible oil and gas drilling, while touting their thoroughly debunked argument that ‘drill baby drill’ will lower gas prices. In response, the leaders of the 48-member House of Representatives Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) released the following statement:

“With rising gas prices we are again witnessing a rise in energy policy-storytelling. Instead of working in a bipartisan manner to address high gas prices and America’s unaffordable oil addiction, House Republicans are pushing legislation to increase irresponsible drilling, reduce vehicle fuel efficiency, and provide enormous subsidies to Big Oil. In order to reduce gas prices we must address the market speculation and runaway demand that are driving them, and we must invest in clean energy alternatives that will break our oil dependence and provide Americans with transportation choices. Instead, the GOP has undertaken an ‘All of the below plan to Grow Oil Profits,’ while pretending to address the gas prices facing everyday Americans.

“Congress should end the multi-billion dollar subsidies enjoyed by the largest oil companies, increase vehicle fuel efficiency, and invest in twenty-first century energy technologies. And before we give Big Oil a chance to drill on more lands and coastlines than the 60 million-plus acres to which they already have access, Congress must enact legislation to address the systemic safety failures that led to last year’s oil spill, and that continue to threaten American communities, ecosystems, and taxpayers. While they push for more drilling, House Republicans have refused to act to protect Americans from another disaster.”

Although Republicans have claimed increased domestic oil and gas drilling would lower gas prices, a recent New York Times editorial illustrated the Energy Information Administration’s projection that tripling offshore drilling would not have any effect on gas prices until 2020, and would only result in a 3 to 5 cent per gallon difference by 2030. Furthermore, while America consumes nearly a quarter of global oil demand, it holds less than 3 percent of the world's oil reserves. Increased drilling will not lower gas prices, nor increase American energy security.

Recent news reports have shown the largest U.S. oil companies to be on pace to meet or exceed their own record profit numbers, which were set at another time of record gas prices, in 2008. President Obama, SEEC, and other Congressional Democrats have called for an end to billions of dollars in subsidies for the five largest private oil companies – to the tune of nearly $4 billion per year – and to invest instead in the innovation and deployment of made-in-America clean energy technologies. House Republicans have repeatedly voted against ending these oil subsidies.

Additionally, last month SEEC reiterated its call for congressional action to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Commission on the BP Oil Spill; to increase oversight of drilling activities, and provide stronger safety standards and better protections for America’s communities and environment. Instead, the GOP legislation being considered this week would remove important drilling safety requirements.

In addition to advancing legislation to increase irresponsible drilling, House Republicans have already passed legislation that would jeopardize existing and prevent future federal and state efforts to increase vehicle fuel efficiency standards. The existing standards, which will take effect for model year cars 2012 through 2016, will save each American consumer $3,000, and represent the most concrete policy action that the U.S. has taken to reduce its oil dependence and fuel costs in thirty years.

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The Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) is a coalition of forty-eight Democratic members of the House of Representatives that was founded in January 2009 to be a focused, active, and effective caucus for advancing “policies that promote clean energy technology innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, and create green collar jobs throughout the product supply-chain, and polices to help arrest global warming and protect our nation’s clean air, water and natural environment.” SEEC is co-chaired by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Steve Israel (D-NY). SEEC vice chairs are Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Paul Tonko (D-NY).