Rising Energy Costs: The Intentional Result of Government Action

WASHINGTON — A report released today by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa highlights evidence that the statements by President Obama and Energy Secretary Chu about intentionally raising energy costs for Americans can be seen across the federal government: from blocking production in the Gulf of Mexico, to hindering “fracking” technology, and stifling oil and gas production on public lands.

“The most troubling things about outlandish statements made by key Obama Administration officials about the need to raise energy costs is that when we examined the evidence, they appear to reflect the agenda they are pursuing,” said Chairman Issa.  “These are obviously not the policies Americans want or support.”

A complete copy of the report can be viewed online here. The Full Committee will hold a hearing to address these policy issues May 24 at 9:00 a.m. in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes will testify.  The 42 page report, “Rising Energy Costs: The Intentional Result of Government Action” identifies numerous Administration efforts to suppress domestic oil and gas production that lead to higher costs while helping the Administration promote expensive alternative sources of energy.

Highlights of the Report

Obama as a presidential candidate said:

“Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. … Coal-powered plants, you know, natural gas, you name it, whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money.”

Obama said in his 2010 state of the union:

“The nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy…America must be that nation.”

Prior to his tenure as Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu said:

“Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”

The report’s findings include:

• Key Obama Administration figures have expressed a belief that Americans should pay more for energy – a pattern of actions shows the Administration is, in fact, pursuing an agenda to raise the price Americans pay for energy.
• While the Administration touts nascent “green” energy technologies, U.S. domestic energy resources are currently the largest on earth—greater than Saudi Arabia, China and Canada combined.
• Recent Administration action has already led to significant cost and regulatory barriers that have limited domestic production of oil.
• EPA has collaborated with environmental groups to target independent energy producers for environmental concerns not related to their operations.
• Some green energy sources the Administration is promoting at the expense of expanded domestic oil, gas, and coal supplies create unintended environmental, security and economic consequences.

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