Harry Reid Sneaks in Oil Shale Ban

Posted September 25th, 2008 at 12.17pm in Energy and Environment.

Leave it to Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid to crash the Energy Freedom party. Not only is he crashing the party, he’s doing so through the side door where he thinks no one can see him.

Just when it appeared that we could celebrate Congress lifting the ban on oil shale, Senator Reid “has decided to sneak an extension of the oil shale ban through as Congress fights over the financial bailout.”

Thanks to Senator Jim DeMint and his blog for alerting the public and providing the text of the legislation:

Sec 1602 continues ban on oil shale. The language follows: SEC. 1602. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 152 of division A of H.R. 2638 (110th Congress), the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, the terms and conditions contained in section 433 of division F of Public Law 110–161 shall remain in effect for the 19 fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.

This comes as both a stunning and ridiculous development; Americans are still coping with high energy prices and coming to grips with a plan to bailout Wall Street, and Senator Reid is denying access to potentially one of America’s most abundant energy reserves. Just how much energy you ask?

Dr. Daniel Fine of MIT reported that 750 billion barrels worth of oil shale have been discovered in Colorado alone. That amount is enough to potentially power the U.S. economy for many decades. Furthermore, if full-scale production begins within five years, the U.S. could completely end its dependence on OPEC by 2020.

An estimated 1.2 trillion to 1.8 trillion barrels of oil is available in the Green River Formation, an area which expands through most of Colorado and parts of Utah and Wyoming. The recoverable oil refined from oil shale would provide another resource for fuel production. According to the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management, a moderate estimate of 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from oil shale in the Green River Formation is three times greater than the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia.

In essence, Senator Reid is stripping the decision rights away from his colleagues in other states. In fact, Senator Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, fully supports lifting the ban on oil shale and he explains why:

In effect, it allows us in the state of Colorado to control our own destiny. At the end of the day, the people of the state of Colorado are the ones who ultimately will derive both the benefits and the detriments of oil shale development.”

Well Senator Salazar, guess who controls your state’s destiny now?

Author: Nick Loris
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22 Comments

September 25, 2008 Roger H. Cook,MD writes:

Supprise!, This is what the hypocrits of thee democrats do.

September 25, 2008 Spurwing Plover writes:

leave it to “Scary” Harry Reid to sneak in more of his dirty work.

September 25, 2008 Shopfloor » Blog Archive » Senator Reid Seeking to Add Back Oil Shale Ban? writes:

[...] Heritage Foundation’s The Foundry blog has more. [...]

September 25, 2008 Hot Air » Blog Archive » Alarm raised: Reid quietly trying to extend ban on oil shale writes:

[...] the front door he’s trying to sneak back in through the side. Jim DeMint is up in arms, as is Heritage: This comes as both a stunning and ridiculous development; Americans are still coping with high [...]

September 25, 2008 Art writes:

With the Democrats in control, we don’t need foreign enemies.

September 25, 2008 Energy Independence, TX writes:

The Republicans had better be all over this and reject ANY bailout bill that includes any ban on energy development. In fact, this is the perfect storm for the Republicans to insert the Gingrich drill here, drill now plan and get it front and center in front of America…just in time for the election!

September 25, 2008 Harry Reid: Most shameful fella | The Anchoress writes:

[...] Now, of course, the execrable Harry Reid, Mr Help-Me- Obi-Wan-McCain Tell-Us-What-To-Do Now Stay Away Obi-Wan-we-don’t-need-you has sneakily done the dirtiest deed yet to the American public he purports to “serve.” Or he would have if he hadn’t been caught. [...]

September 25, 2008 Really-W.T.F? writes:

Is seems like these people want to push the limits to see just exactly how far they can go before there is a massive uprising and a NEW REVOLUTION. Maybe a ‘PITCHFORK AND TORCH’ march on Washington wouldn’t be a bad thing. Or maybe getting these socialists out will be enough.

September 25, 2008 Fireweednectar’s Weblog writes:

[...] Allahpundit, you rock! Two days after leaving through the front door he’s trying to sneak back in through the side. Jim DeMint is up in arms, as is Heritage: [...]

September 25, 2008 Ojisan writes:

Don’t fault this slug. Who voted him in? This slug is only as good as his constituents who got him in there and will continue to do what slug does best.

September 25, 2008 Sneaky Harry Reid Oil Shale Update | The Anchoress writes:

[...] and utter creepiness of being that he exhibited in exploiting the distraction of a serious crisis to sneak into new legislation a ban on oil shale mining. The execrable Harry Reid is a fiend. While we’re facing gasoline and home heating oil shortages [...]

September 25, 2008 Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » Reid Trying To Sneak In Oil Shale Ban writes:

[...] Heritage response: This comes as both a stunning and ridiculous development; Americans are still coping with high [...]

September 25, 2008 Thomas Gray, South Carolina writes:

Were are on a downward energy spiral, and thanks to Mr Reid and people like him it’s only going to get worse.

Reminds me of the words [ if you were drowning you don't clutch no straws ]. These people won’t even let us have the straws. Tom.

September 25, 2008 Lies, Damn Lies « In Other Words writes:

[...] evaluations. Allahpundit shows how the man’s word is most definitely not his bond. Quoting The Heritage Foundation: This comes as both a stunning and ridiculous development; Americans are still coping with high [...]

September 26, 2008 Right Wing Nation » This Even Shocks Me writes:

[...] this housing welfare mess that the Democrats would drop their usual dishonesty, wouldn’t you. Think again. Leave it to Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid to crash the Energy Freedom party. Not only is he [...]

September 26, 2008 Jean McNeil, West Monroe, La. writes:

I am not surprised that Senator Reid did this. However; I guess I was hoping that the Senator was more of a statesman than this(should have known better by other stunts he has pulled)
Guess it is up to the American People to get the word out via e-mail since Senator DeMint has alerted us to thi.

September 26, 2008 Ralph Cavolo writes:

Good ole’ Harry he needs to have the light of truth shine on him. I’ll just bet he’ll squint a lot and run for the shade. He kinda sounds like a Brooklyn bred roach. They hate the light too. Unlike them his reaction is by choice.

September 26, 2008 sue writes:

Unbelievable! Energy independence is maybe the one thing that could save our economy…and this idiot bans it. We should not support any $700 Billion bailout plan that this man supports. I believe this whole crisis was planned by the dems to make America think that we need them to save us. I for one will not give up my freedom for the promise of safety!! Especially from socialists pigs!

September 26, 2008 Howard writes:

First the Democrats blindly follow Obama … now, they are willing to blindly follow Reid, Bush and Paulson … in a decision which could dramatically affect every American for decades. Well, thank God, Senator John McCain, Senator Shelby, and hundreds of economists don’t just want to take a few people’s word for it. Already, Reid has tried to tack additional pork, like Acorn, to this bailout. I didn’t think I could dislike inept Harry Reid, with his 15% approval rating, any more than I already did, but this isn’t about Reid being left alone to decide America’s future. It will be interesting to look back at this in retrospect, to see if we really did have to RUSH this 750 Billion dollar decision … and, who really benefitted from pushing it through so quickly. Also, what’s Alan Greenspan’s opinon ???

September 26, 2008 Dave Popkes, Sheldon Iowa writes:

Lifting the oil and drilling bans would be a good way to offset the houseing crunch, lower energy costs would leave more money in the budget to pay for the mortgages, higher costs would agravate it even more.

January 14, 2009 Joe, North Carolina writes:

Unfair to America that idiots like Reid can’t suffer the same fate of Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline, and Jim Croce. At a minimum can’t the Nevadans vote the reprobate out of office?

May 23, 2009 Alternative energy alone won't meet US needs - Politics and Other Controversies - City-Data Forum writes:

[...] [...]

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