15-03-2012

AFPM urges president Obama to take steps to strengthen the nation’s energy security

In light of Energy Secretary Steven Chu's recent comments regarding fuel prices, the American Fuel &Petrochemical Manufacturers urges President Obama to take steps that strengthen the nation's economic and energy security. Current and proposed regulations and programs by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Obama administration, including increased taxes, greenhouse gas controls under the Clean Air Act, Tier 3gasoline sulfur regulations, and unrealistic biofuel mandates are harming our economy and threatening our national security.

"Secretary Chu's sudden realization that raising fuel prices is not a prescription for recovery should be good news for consumers, the economy, and energy and national security, but the credibility of his new position could be strengthened if he would encourage the President to embrace an energy policy based on today's realities instead of tomorrow's dreams," said AFPM President Charles T.Drevna.

"President Obama has an ample opportunity to do what is right for the American people. This includes making the right decisions on the overly burdensome and conflicting Environmental Protection Agency regulations that threaten to raise fuel costs; allowing open access to oil and gas reserves on federal lands and off our shores; approving the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada; and eliminating the rhetoric and demagoguery that underlies calls to increase taxes on fuel manufacturers, which would only serve to increase the cost of producing these essential products," said Drevna.

"It is time for the President and EPA to consider the secretary's comments and act appropriately. American manufacturers of fuels and petrochemicals can help build a better future for the American people if regulatory conditions are improved and the nation is allowed to develop its abundant energy resources,"continued Drevna.

In the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing earlier this week, Energy Secretary Chu retracted previous statements in which he admitted wanting the price of gasoline and diesel to increase to over $6 per gallon. President Obama has also previously indicated his energy policy seeks to raise, rather than lower, consumer energy prices. In the hearing the Secretary said, "Of course we don't want the price of gasoline to go up, we want it to go down."