FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2008
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Brian Kennedy (202) 346-8826

IER Continues Energy Education Ad Campaign:
Only 9 More Days Until Congressional Bans on Offshore and Oil Shale Energy Expire

Washington, DC – The Institute for Energy Research (IER) continues its energy education ad campaign this week with two new radio spots, “Same Failed Policies” and “Drill More, Tax Less.”  Building on its August print and radio education campaign, IER’s new ads  will run starting today in Alaska, Georgia, South Dakota, Louisiana and Tennessee.  IER president Thomas Pyle issued the following statement:

“The continuation of our energy education campaign reminds Americans about one critical energy fact – as taxpayers, they own the federal lands and the energy resources that lie beneath them.  As such, Americans should be asking themselves why they are being subjected to an energy embargo from Washington.  By banning energy production on federal lands for the last few decades, American supplies have been restricted, contributing greatly to the energy crunch American consumers are enduring today.”

“Unfortunately, policymakers seem incapable of grasping that simple supply and demand equation.  Federal lands and their energy resources don’t belong to the government – they belong to the people.  Lifting the  bans on domestic energy production will put taxpayer-owned energy resources to work for us for a change. Our families and our economy need more American energy, not less.”

Text of the “Same Failed Policies” ad follows, and it can be heard by clicking here:

With rising gas and home heating costs – you would think that our leaders would want to help our families who are struggling to make ends meet.  But as usual – Washington has it backwards.  Some lawmakers are pushing more of the same failed policies that have led to record high energy prices.

While most Americans are calling for expanding exploration, some Washington leaders want to permanently ban exploration on most of our energy rich off-shore locations.  There is a better way to improve our lagging economy and put America back on its feet.

Opening up ALL of our taxpayer-owned offshore oil resources will make us less dependent on foreign imports from unstable nations, help grow our economy, and most importantly assist in making gas and home heating bills affordable again for American families.

A sound energy policy is one that allows for more energy, not LESS.

Text of “Drill Now, Tax Less” ad follows, and it can be heard by clicking here:

America’s energy problem is hurting our families.  With prices at the pump near historic highs, Washington is doing little to reduce our reliance on imports from unstable regions like Venezuela, Nigeria and the Middle East.

Instead of solving our energy problems, some leaders in Washington are actually trying to raise taxes on domestic energy production.  Raising energy taxes would cost America more than 600,000 jobs and do virtually nothing to decrease our reliance on foreign oil from unstable nations.

Washington needs to open our taxpayer owned land for exploration and production, but some policymakers want to permanently lock up nearly all of our energy-rich outer continental shelf.  Permanent bans on drilling and increased energy taxes mean higher energy costs for our families.

We need new American energy and lower prices, not increased taxes and empty promises on drilling.

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit public foundation that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets.  Founded in 1989, IER is funded entirely by tax deductible contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. No financial support is sought or accepted from government (taxpayers).

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www.InstituteforEnergyResearch.org

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