US Chamber vows renewed effort for ANWR, OCS development

Washington (Platts)--4Jan2006

US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donahue Wednesday accused
lawmakers of engaging in a double standard by complaining about high energy
prices, while rejecting efforts to increase domestic energy supplies. 

     Donahue told reporters the chamber would lobby aggressively in 2006 for
congressional authorization to allow oil and natural gas development in
Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on more of the Outer Continental
Shelf.

     He said US businesses are "disappointed by the continuing ignorance and
in some cases hypocrisy of many elected officials and thought leaders on
energy...On the one hand, they bemoan the high price of energy and our
dependence on foreign imports," he said. "On the other hand, they oppose
virtually all steps to address our energy needs."

     R Bruce Josten, the chamber's executive vice president for government
affairs, said winning congressional approval for ANWR development may be even
more difficult in 2006 because of a crowded legislative calendar and elections
in November. 

     Attempts to include ANWR provisions in spending and policy bills failed
last year, despite support from Republican leaders, who want the refuge opened
to drilling.

     On OCS development, Josten said prospects for broadening access may
be better in 2007, when the US Minerals Management Service implements a new
five-year OCS plan. 

     Josten said efforts to promote energy development and other issues in
Congress are likely to be affected by the scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack
Abramoff, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to fraud charges. "I expect we will see
regulatory changes if not changes to the law," he said.

     Josten reiterated the chamber's support for the Bush administration's
opposition to mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions. "How do you do
it without the right kind of technology?" he asked. "Some of these
technologies, such as clean coal, are right around the corner."

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