Where’s the Energy? One-Year Later, De Facto Ban Remains in Place

Renew Call for More American Energy

By Institute for Energy Research
Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Washington, DC – One year ago today, partly in response to the urging of the Institute for Energy Research (IER), President Bush abolished the 18-year old unilateral presidential ban on responsible offshore American energy production along the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). While one year has passed, America’s vast offshore energy resources still remain untapped, and under a de facto federal ban. IER’s president, Thomas J. Pyle – who was joined at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol today by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and other congressional leaders – issued the following statement:

“Lifting the outdated, outmoded, outsized presidential ban on safe American energy exploration and production one year ago was long overdue. But while its elimination was an important step toward the prospect of future energy development, the federal government’s recent actions ensure that a de facto ban remains in place.

“This anniversary should not only serve as a reminder to the American people, and to their elected officials in Washington, that increased energy production creates good-paying jobs at a time when they are most needed. If we’re serious about lowering energy costs and making our nation more energy secure, we must embrace and aggressively produce every single form of energy possible, especially offshore oil and gas.â€