Energy no-action has Okla.'s U.S. lawmakers clamoring

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Aug 4, 2008 by Janice Francis-Smith

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas is one of Oklahoma's Republican representatives in Congress who ascribes to the Republican Party's call for increased domestic production of oil and natural gas, including offshore drilling. But he also represents agriculturally dominated areas of the state that benefit from an increased national focus on biofuels and alternative, renewable sources of energy.

With such varied interests, the odds would indicate Lucas had a pretty good chance of seeing something he liked in whatever energy bill was approved by Congress this year. Instead, Lucas became one of the most disappointed members of Congress when lawmakers adjourned for the rest of the summer without having passed any energy bill at all.

While the party leaders deadlocked on their priority issues, lawmakers like Lucas are advocating an "all of the above" approach to energy policy. Lucas said gas prices will have to be addressed by a variety of efforts, from increasing domestic drilling to supporting research in renewable and alternative forms of energy to encouraging energy conservation.

"Oklahoma has long been known for its energy production from oil and gas fields," Lucas told members of a congressional committee during a hearing on energy issues. "However, the potential for renewable energy production from my home state is endless. In my district alone, we can provide animal and plant waste, corn crops for conventional ethanol and the land to grow cellulosic crops for switch grass."

On the House floor, Lucas voiced his support of the American Energy Act, which, among other things, would have made it easier to build refineries and nuclear power plants and would have allowed for increased offshore drilling.

"One of the best components of this bill is the permanent extension of tax credits for alternative energy production," Lucas said on the House floor during discussion of the bill. "Oklahoma is the ninth-largest producer of wind, and we look forward to continued growth in that industry. I know that extending the production tax credit on wind energy will send the right message to wind producers that the American government is ready to work with them to expand upon this already successful alternative energy source."

Other members of Oklahoma's delegation have been vocal over the past few weeks regarding the Republican initiative to open up restricted areas along the U.S. coasts for offshore drilling. Former President George H.W. Bush, the current president's father, had implemented the moratorium on offshore drilling in 1990. The previous year, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker had accidentally spilled more than 10 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound, creating one of the greatest environmental disasters in U.S. history.

Members of Congress had then supported the moratorium, as many of their constituents feared a similar disaster could happen to coastal communities in the lower 48 states that rely on clean beaches for economic development and tourism. No one knows for sure how much oil might be found in the nation's outer continental shelf, because no one has explored in the restricted areas for decades.

On the other side of the aisle, U.S. Rep. Dan Boren is the one Democrat member of Oklahoma's congressional delegation, making him a member of the majority in a Congress strongly opposed to increased offshore drilling. But Boren is mindful that he represents a state where the oil and gas industry dominates its economy.

In the midst of a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill that failed to produce an energy bill the two political parties could agree on, Boren announced his partnership with one of Oklahoma's - and the nation's - most conservative Republican lawmakers, U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, on a bill to support marginal well production.

"Every day, hard-working Oklahomans are facing rising costs of energy and our country continues to be dependent on foreign nations for its energy needs," said Boren. "Congress must ensure that we are taking full advantage of every option available to increase our domestic energy supply."