America’s Reluctance To Use Its Own Energy

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John Hinderaker posted an article at Power Line about America’s current energy policies.  The article points out that Canadian oil production is forecast to jump 68 percent to 4.7 million barrels per day by 2025. 

The article at Power Line quotes the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers:

“The rise in production from 2.8 billion barrels in 2010, largely in the Athabasca oil sands of Western Canada, reflects an improved investment climate, more robust commodity prices and increased market demand, the association said.”

Most of us are glad that we are buying oil from Canada rather than from hostile nations, but we need to remember that the improved investment climate caused by Canadian drilling could also be ours but for government energy policies.

Michael Bromwich, Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE), testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform yesterday.  As usual, he attempted to defend the Obama Administration’s energy policies.  As usual, you need to look past the numbers he was quoting to see what is actually happening.  For instance, according to the article:

“In his written testimony, Mr. Bromwich claims that shallow water drilling permits “have averaged 6 per month since October 2010, compared to an average of 8 per month in 2009.” He is correct. However, he forgets to mention that shallow water permits granted in 2008 averaged 16.8 per month. Mr. Bromwich’s statement highlights the drastic decrease in shallow water permitting since President Obama came into office. …

“But the administration’s shallow water permitting record is fantastic when compared to deepwater permits. BOEMRE has only approved two permits to drill a new well in waters deeper than 500 feet since the end of the moratorium.”

It’s time to use our own resources.  Be aware as a voter that drilling in America could make a drastic difference in unemployment.  The current unemployment rate in North Dakota is 3.2 percent.  That is due to the development of the Bakken Shale reserve which is causing an oil boom in the state.  If you would like to see that kind of prosperity spread to the rest of the nation, vote for people who will allow America to develop her resources.