Pat Dollard | Young Americans

by Amanda Carpenter - (Townhall)

Conservatives are declaring October 1 “Energy Freedom Day” to mark the expiration of a congressional ban on offshore drilling and domestic shale oil exploration.

Traditionally Congress renews the ban at the end of every fiscal year, but this year it was allowed to terminate.

“Energy Freedom Day is a victory for the American people that stood up and made their voices heard in Washington. Thanks to millions of Americans demanding action, the bans on American energy have expired and we can begin to produce our own oil and natural gas to lower gas prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Sen. Jim DeMint (R.-S.C.) said. “Opening up American energy is an important step to get our economy moving again. The federal government and states could reap over a trillion dollars in revenues that will help reduce the tax burden on Americans.”

There is estimated to be more than 20 billion barrels of oil and 97 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in offshore locations and somewhere between 800 billion and 2 trillion barrels of oil shale in the Western states.

DeMint and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R.-Tex.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, spearheaded the “Energy Freedom Day” effort. Together, they launched a bicameral campaign to publicize the energy ban and its end date through an aggressive internet-based campaign.

DeMint introduced the “Drill Now Act” to the Senate Monday to “permanently open offshore drilling and oil shale, expedite the leasing process to allow drilling to begin as early as 2009, ensure state revenue sharing, and stop frivolous lawsuits that delay energy production.”

Me: Kurt The Infidel emailed me a bit of ‘promising’ info on this subject today:

ok so with all the talk about the “bailout” plan we have forgot about something important. the fact that the offshore drilling ban was allowed to expire even by democrats and i got word just a little bit ago from a good friend who moved down to Louisiana about 6 months ago to work on a oil rig. well he just told me that the plans are in the works right now for massive new oil rigs to be put offshore all up and down the intercontinental shelf and its time for Drill Baby Drill!

just had to message you and tell you this. its happening right now and the media is too busy with other business to mention it i guess

Kurt’s second email:

very weird. now fox is mentioning it right after i messaged you..but they are reporting that there is still federal regulations against drilling rigs being within 6 miles off the coast i think..but thank god for deep water rigs.

Meanwhile, gas in my area is around $3.46/gal … Developing