Gas Prices Doubled, Obama Locks Up Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve

I bet that will help gas prices…

Energy Policy: As the administration fast-tracks solar projects on public lands, it has locked up more than half of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, preferring to continue outsourcing energy jobs and dollars.

The price of gasoline, which was $1.84 a gallon the day President Obama took office, has more than doubled since, willfully aided and abetted by an administration that claims we can’t drill our way to energy independence as we ignore vast reserves of North American energy that dwarf OPEC’s and we sit on 100 years’ supply of petroleum.

Few Americans have heard of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA), and those who have might get it confused with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or even the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to the east. The NPRA, 23 million acres of North Slope wilderness, was established in 1923 by President Harding to ensure a reserve of oil for the U.S. Navy.

In 1976 Congress designated it as a strategic oil and natural gas stockpile to meet the “energy needs of the nation.” Obama has cited it as an example of areas where the oil companies could drill but are reluctant to, knowing full well his administration has walled off preferred areas on the Outer Continental Shelf, on protected federal lands and in ANWR.

Now his administration has walled off the most productive areas of NPRA in a little-noticed Interior Department decision in August closing off drilling on nearly half of NPRA’s 23.5 million acres of desolate, frozen wilderness. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says his plan “will help the industry bring energy safely to market from this remote location, while also protecting wildlife and subsistence rights of Alaska natives.”

Alaska’s entire congressional delegation — Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski and Rep. Don Young — say otherwise.

Obama Vows to Drill “Everywhere We Can”… Except ANWR, Florida, Virginia, The Continental Shelf, Utah, Alaska and Ohio

ANWR even has a half empty pipeline ready for use. Just look at the opportunities.

So when Obama says he is going to drill everywhere, he really means pretty much nowhere. It’s what liars do, when they think no one will tell you the truth.

How does authorizing the building of the lower half of a pipeline which is already being built. Answer one question, how to we get the oil from Canadian oil sands to Oklahoma? How about we try a kiddy slip and slide?

The Hill reported:

“If you hear anybody on TV saying that somehow we are against drilling for oil, then you will know that they either don’t know what they are talking about or they are not telling you the truth,” Obama said, against the backdrop of oil production facilities outside Maljamar, N.M.

“We are drilling all over the place,” Obama added, reading from a speech on his podium on a windy afternoon. “That’s the reason we have been able to reduce our dependence on foreign oil every year since I took office.”

While Obama has repeated in recent days that there’s no “silver bullet” that can currently ease the price at the pumps, he vowed that his administration will make oil-and-gas development a continued priority as part of a wider strategy focused on traditional and alternative energy. “You have my word that we will keep drilling everywhere we can and we will do it while protecting the health and safety of the American people,” Obama said, speaking with no jacket or tie. “That’s a commitment that I make.”

The White House has struggled in recent days to win the debate on gas prices, with Obama appearing at college campuses and manufacturing facilities to tout his energy strategy.

Wednesday’s appearance in New Mexico reflected a pivot of sorts as the White House looked to change the optics on the issue.

It’s a good thing the media is in his pocket or he would have a much harder time trying to fool the American people.

We need to change the optics, not really do anything. You know, like a photo op.

Democrats Block Keystone XL and ANWR Drilling

With gas prices at record levels…

Senate Democrats rejected the Keystone Pipeline and drilling in ANWR yesterday in a single vote. EVERY DEMOCRAT, except for Senator Begich from Alaska, voted against the legislation that would increase American oil production. I bet they think that green crap is going to be better, at least the global warming hoaxers will like it.

The Pioneer Press reported:

The Senate on Tuesday resoundingly rejected a sweeping measure to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other protected areas to oil drilling, as well as to approve construction of the Keystone pipeline project.

Tuesday’s vote was the first time in four years that the Senate has voted on a measure including ANWR drilling, and it failed miserably. The proposal needed 60 votes to pass; it only received 41 votes in favor, with 57 senators against.

Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts pushed the measure as an amendment to the bill that funds transportation projects across the nation.

Obama and Senate Democrats blocked the Keystone Pipeline last week, too.