Oil and Gas Proponents Receive Legislative Support
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Oil and Gas Proponents Receive Legislative Support The U.S. House of Representatives rejected the Obama administration’s offshore drilling planon Wednesday July, 25th. The House voted 253-170 in favor of replacing the proposed bill with H.R. 6082, a drilling plan that would increase the number of offshore lease sales and open up the Outer Continental Shelf offshore southern California and Virginia. Critics of the Obama administration’s proposal have stated that the plan would cut-off 85 percent ofAmerica’s offshore areas for energy production. H.R. 6082, which was introduced by House Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings on July 9 th , contains a leasing schedule that includes territories that contain the largest known amounts ofoiland natural gas resources. The purpose of H.R. 6082 is to provide new opportunities for job creation and incr ease energy prod uction in the U.S . In the past, House Democrats and Republicans have been split on issues surrounding offshore drilling and clean air regulations. However, in a rare moment of accord, the two parties are expected to pass a separate legislation this afternoon that would protect power utilities from environmental fines when the federal government orders them to keep generating electricit y. Thisnew bill, sponsored by Rep. Pete Olson, R- Sugar Land, is intended to provide leniency to energy utilities that run afoul of federal, state and local environmental laws when they are ordered to continue to generate power. Such orders will be issued as necessary to prevent blackouts and maintain a stable electric power grid. These energy companies will be protected from environmental deviations when the Energy Department orders them to keep generating power to avert problems with the power grid. If the bill is passed, the Energy Department will be required to consult with environmental regulatorson ways to minimize the environmental effects of future directives. Such orders from the Energy Department will expire after 90 days, but could be reinstated at a later date depending on the circumstance. Energy policy is a hot-ticket item for this upcoming election. It is promising to see evidence that Democrats and Republicans are working in conjunction to improve the energy policies in the United States.Oil and gas producers like TAP Management are anticipating a realistic and unbiased approach to the United States’ future en ergy solutions. Consideri ng the bene fitsthe oil and gas boomis providing our economy, increasing the domestic supply o f energy resources is vital to o ur nation’s recovery. TAP Management Inc. | 515 Congress Avenue, Suite 2525 | Austin, TX | (512) 527-6000
