Domestic Oil

Our efforts this election year have been remarkable and effective.   Whatever you think of Tuesday’s results, all of the winners will be much more attentive to American Energy next year because of our efforts.

Over the next several weeks, however, we need to shift our focus because Congress will hold what is called a “lame duck” session.  This can be a time where unusual circumstances yield unexpected decisions affecting American Energy.

Why is it called a “lame duck”?

A lame-duck session is so called because, having been either defeated or not seeking re-election, certain Members of Congress are fundamentally weakened like a lame duck unable to keep up with its flock. 

Yet in this role—with nothing to lose—the outgoing Members can often be emboldened on pivotal votes.  

For some members, who may never have to explain their actions to the voters, they may make decisions that are not in the interests of American energy.  Compounding the matter, other Members that would ordinarily support U.S. energy may decide not to fight back. 

How long is the “lame duck” session?

Like many of us, Members of Congress look forward to the end of the session and returning home for the holidays.  That’s why the session will be fast-moving and will probably be short.   But until the last vote is cast, Congress’ job is not done.

So what can Energy Citizens do to help?

1. Write your Members of Congress and remind them that you support American energy and oppose energy tax increases.  We need them to stand strong for American Energy on Capitol Hill. [link to generic “no new energy taxes” alert on the website]
2. Return to EnergyCitizens.org regularly we will keep the blog updated with information about key energy issues in the lame-duck session of Congress.
3. Spread the word about Energy Citizens.  The election will still be fresh in the minds of many of your friends, family, and neighbors, and you’ll likely be seeing more of them thanks to the holidays.  Ask them to join Energy Citizens and write their legislators while the lame-duck session is taking place. 

High fuel prices, brought on by market-influencing events around the world, have many consumers and small business owners worried.  But in a worst-case scenario, the United States does have a backup – the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

 The SPR is the world’s largest emergency reserve of crude oil, stored in underground caverns in Texas and Louisiana. It currently contains more than 700 million barrels of oil.

 This supply has been tapped three times since it was created in 1975, first in 1991 during Desert Storm, then again in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and in 2011 during the Libyan revolution.

 It is not intended to be used to interfere with global fuel commodity markets or control price spikes, but rather to counter “severe supply disruptions.”

 Obviously, that is not where we are today. Current high gas prices are the result of unfortunate but not unusual market conditions and, we hope, will settle down as those conditions change.

 There is no denying that some of the fuel price predictions we are hearing today could create an emergency situation for some consumers.  But not the kind of emergency that calls for tapping the SPR.

 What we can do, however, is to push our representatives in Washington for commonsense energy policies that maximize domestic production, control excessive taxation and minimize unnecessary regulations on energy companies. That is the best way to protect ourselves against the short-term supply disruptions and overseas turmoil that drive prices today.