Archive for September, 2008

Politicians, Not Hurricane Ike, Causing Gas Lines

Hurricane Ike didn’t wreak as much havoc on coastal refineries as originally feared, but several days of operation were still lost due to the forced shutdown.  This drop in gasoline supply went hand in hand with long lines at the gas pumps in several states.  Yet the hurricane alone didn’t cause these gas lines:  only [...]

A Massive Economic Stimulus in the Making

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2008
CONTACT
Brian Kennedy (202) 346-8826
Ban on Offshore Energy Production Expires
Tonight at Midnight
Washington, DC – After being off the books for nearly three decades, the Congressional ban on outer continental shelf (OCS) energy production expires this evening at midnight.  Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research (IER) issued the following [...]

Energy IQ: Sources and More Information

The first oil well in the U.S. was drilled in 1859. Do you know where?
Titusville, Pennsylvania. While historical records indicate that naturally occurring seeps of petroleum were collected and used for a variety of purposes as early as the 1600s, Colonel Edwin Drake was the first to devise a mechanical system to drill into underground [...]

Destroy Jobs Now, Green Jobs Later…Maybe

On Saturday, September 27, the “Green Jobs Now” campaign is fielding what it calls a National Day of Action to “build the new economy.” Their goal is to repower “America with 100% clean and renewable electricity within 10 years.” The goal sounds laudable, but repowering America in 10 years comes with a hefty price tag [...]

The Financial Incentives Behind the Pickens Plan

T. Boone Pickens’ Decision to Build a Wind Farm Shows Why the Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) Should NOT be Extended
Right now, wind industry lobbyists are pushing the U.S. Congress to extend the highly lucrative wind Production Tax Credit (PTC), an action that could shift another $3 billion[1] in tax burden from wind farm owners [...]

How to finance the financial bailout

Monday night, Neil Cavuto chastised Congress for not being able to multitask and simultaneously deal with both our financial needs and our energy needs. It’s too bad, because increased domestic energy production will help with our current financial problems.
On Monday, the financial markets responded to the financial bailout plans and as a result, the dollar [...]

Congress Relents Under Pressure From American Public, Allows Offshore Drilling Ban to Expire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2008
CONTACT:
Brian Kennedy (202) 346-8826
Congress Relents Under Pressure From American Public, Allows Offshore Drilling Ban to Expire
Institute for Energy Research (IER) survey shows 65% of Americans prefer this approach
Washington, DC – The Institute for Energy Research (IER) today released the results of a bipartisan national survey of America’s attitudes on energy policy.  [...]

IER National Survey Executive Summary

On behalf of the bi-partisan polling team of Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates (R) and Frederick Polls (D), we are pleased to present the findings from a national opinion survey on attitudes on energy issues.
With two-thirds of Americans thinking gas prices and energy independence are a ‘very serious problems,’ our national survey indicates broad public desire [...]

Congress will end the OCS moratorium—now what?

Download as PDF (120KB)
Congress has decided to end the moratorium on energy exploration and production on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This is a victory for the American people, but the question is, what does ending the moratorium really mean and when should we expect to see production on the OCS?
The moratorium banned any energy [...]

Congress to Allow Offshore Drilling Ban to Expire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008
CONTACT
Brian Kennedy (202) 346-8826
Washington, DC - According to the Associated Press, Congressional leaders have decided to allow the nearly three decades-old ban on offshore energy production to expire.  Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research (IER) issued the following statement:
“For almost thirty years, the Congress has restricted access to [...]