Obama’s Gas Prices Picture Says All the Wrong Words

Nicolas Loris / May 10, 2011

The White House released an infographic entitled “The Obama Energy Agenda & Gas Prices” that highlights a number of facts with regards to domestic oil production, improved fuel efficiency, improved transportation fleet and a clean energy future.

While a picture may say a thousand words, this graphic conveniently omits critical facts and points that demonstrate that this Administration is choking off oil production and trying to use taxpayer money to force uncompetitive energy sources and technologies into the market.

• “Increasing Domestic Oil Production.” The facts on the infographic highlight that U.S. crude oil production in 2010 was the highest it has been since 2003 and that the Administration offered over 6 million acres onshore and 37 million acres offshore for lease. But here’s a number of things the graphic doesn’t share: (1) Production in the western Gulf of Mexico dropped nearly a third of a million barrels per day since last April, and the increased production in 2010 is a result of increased horizontal drilling in North Dakota. (2) We can’t drill off the Pacific Coast, Atlantic Coast, or the eastern Gulf of Mexico. (3) The U.S. Environmental Appeals Board withheld air quality permits preventing Shell from moving forward to develop 27 billion barrels of oil off the coasts of Alaska. The Environmental Protection Agency already issued two air permits, but Earthjustice filed a petition to review the permits, causing the Appeals Board to act. (4) The Administration’s own Energy Information Administration projects that oil production will decline significantly in 2011 and 2012. (more…)