Rocky Mountain drilling divides US presidential candidates: AGA

Washington (Platts)--18Aug2004

The future of drilling in the Rocky Mountains divides the presidential
candidates more than any other energy-related issue, Roger Cooper, executive
vice president of policy and planning for the American Gas Assn said
Wednesday. Cooper said in a press briefing that the US Department of Interior
under the Bush Administration had favored more drilling in the region. 

An administration led by Senator John Kerry, Democrat-Massachusetts, would
likely want to pursue the Clinton administration's policies, which tended to
oppose oil and gas development in the Rockies. But Cooper said that the
Clinton administration "didn't have to deal with high gas prices," which would
not ease if more constraints were placed on gas supplies. 

On other energy related issues, Cooper and other AGA officials said they would
continue to push for passage of the energy bill by the end of 2004. But should
no bill be approved, they would reconsider their strategy, especially with
regard to the Alaskan gas pipeline.

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