House Republicans exhort Calif. to increase drilling

E&E News
By Debra Kahn
April 4, 2014

House Republicans today advocated for increased oil and natural gas drilling in California, while Democrats pushed back, sparring over the state's appetite for more fossil fuels.

California is a net oil importer despite its potentially vast untapped petroleum resources offshore from Southern California and in the Monterey Shale. Witnesses at the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing said streamlining regulation of hydraulic fracturing would create jobs and promote energy security.

"I am sure that Californians would prefer their dollars stay and work in California rather than fund the Russia regime that is shipping arms to Syria's dictator, recently stole the Crimea from Ukraine and threatens the world's security," said subcommittee Chairman Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.).

Democrats argued that the state is already the third-largest crude producer in the country, that offshore drilling and hydraulic fracturing are unpopular among Californians, and that demand for gasoline is expected to fall in the state due to fuel efficiency standards and the state's programs for alternative-fuel vehicles.

"I am disappointed that the majority has decided to focus its attention on one narrow, unsustainable and unpopular option," said Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.). "This hearing is frankly out of touch and out of step."

He added, "If the intent is to allow oil companies to access more of a commodity that they could sell at a higher price ... we should just be up front about that."

The hearing was also billed as highlighting the potential of increasing oil production in Alaska, particularly in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

But when Rep. Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) read a statement opposing drilling in ANWR, Lamborn was confused.

"I don't understand where that came from," he said.

Huffman explained, "This was very much part of the framing of this hearing."