Staff Reports
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had a rough day at a recent hearing on oil and natural gas production on federal lands. AOC, who is supposedly an expert on the topic as the ranking member on the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, made some pretty outrageous claims about greenhouse gas emissions. But she quickly got schooled by Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, who called her out for spreading falsehoods.
https://x.com/JDunlap1974/status/1704515735504945485?s=20
AOC began the hearing by stating that oil and gas production on federal land is responsible for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. She used this as an excuse to push for the Green New Deal and limit drilling on public land. But Sgamma wasn’t having it. She pointed out that AOC’s claim was completely false and based on a misreading of the statistics.
https://x.com/WesternEnergy1/status/1704182535092326711?s=20
According to Sgamma, production on federal lands and waters actually only accounts for 0.6% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That’s a far cry from the quarter that AOC was trying to claim. It turns out that the use of federal lands for drilling contributes a minuscule amount to overall emissions.
This whole situation just goes to show that AOC doesn’t really know what she’s talking about. She’s willing to make false claims to push her radical agenda, even if it means ignoring the facts. It’s no wonder that conservatives are skeptical of her policies like the Green New Deal.
During her testimony, Sgamma also called on Congress to investigate the Interior Department’s restrictions on drilling on public lands. She argued that these restrictions are hurting domestic drilling companies and causing higher prices at the pump. And she’s absolutely right. The Biden administration’s focus on appeasing environmental activists is limiting our energy resources and hurting American consumers.
It’s time for Congress to take a closer look at the Interior Department’s actions and how they’re impacting our energy industry. We can’t afford to let misguided ideologies dictate our energy policy. We need a balanced approach that allows for responsible domestic drilling and keeps energy prices affordable for hardworking Americans. It’s time for AOC and her radical colleagues to step aside and let the experts make the decisions.
