Oil

Declines in U.S. Petroleum Consumption Expected to Continue

If you feel like you’ve been economizing by driving less and adjusting your thermostat more, you’re not alone. Total U.S. petroleum consumption reported in today’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) is once again lower than the same week last year.

Average monthly total petroleum consumption has now declined for 12 consecutive months when compared with the same month the year before. Within the last 25 years, we’ve identified 6 other 12-month periods during which there was a sustained drop in total petroleum consumption from the previous year.    » read more »

Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations

August 13, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

Outgoing president George W. Bush delivers a statement on Georgia: Flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Aug. 13, 2008. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian    » read more »

White House -- 12 August 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush wants Congress to allow more offshore oil drilling. High energy prices are a big part of this year's presidential campaign. President Bush says a lot of Americans are wondering why their government is not doing something about the supply of crude oil.

Following a meeting with business leaders, Mr. Bush said opposition Democrats in Congress are to blame for blocking efforts to expand domestic offshore drilling that has been restricted since the early 1980s.    » read more »

With $5 Million State Aid Package, Company Could be the First Pulp and Paper Mill to Operate without Fossil Fuels

August 13, 2008 -- PARK FALLS – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today visited the Flambeau River Papers mill and announced $5 million to help the company achieve its goal of being the first integrated pulp and paper mill in the nation to operate without the use of fossil fuels.    » read more »

Aug 13, 2008 -- SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Utah Governor Jon Huntsman announced today that the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Department of Commerce are actively monitoring and analyzing Utah gas prices. In the most recent AAA gas report, the State's average price for unleaded gasoline was third highest in the nation.

"Gas prices are hitting everyone hard. As the rest of the country is seeing some relief from exorbitant gas prices, gas retailers in Utah have not shown Utahns a commensurate decrease at the pumps here at home," said Governor Huntsman. "We are asking these state agencies to monitor the situation within their enforcement powers to make sure Utahns are not being taken advantage of."    » read more »

Governor Says Surplus Should Be Set Aside Solely for Heating Help

August 13, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today called on the General Assembly to take swift action on her proposals to provide energy relief to Connecticut families this winter during the August 22 special session. The Governor also re-emphasized that the Legislature should direct the entire state budget surplus to heating assistance programs.    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state is extending lines of credit to the hundreds of Connecticut fuel oil dealers facing soaring business costs this winter because of record fuel oil prices.

“The ripple of effect of high fuel prices is having a tremendous impact on everyone,” Governor Rell said. “It is likely that half of the 549 fuel oil dealers in Connecticut will need some assistance to buy their home heating oil from wholesalers. Most of these dealers are small companies with less than five trucks.”    » read more »

August 12, 2008 -- The Democratic National Committee today launched the first web ad of the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign. The ad, called "Exxon John," highlights McCain's promise of more giveaways for his new friends in Big Oil. Released on the same day activists across the country are participating in an Exxon-McCain '08 National Day of Action, "Exxon John" is a parody of the "Big John" video released earlier this year by Republican Senator John Cornyn.    » read more »

Exxon-McCain '08

August 11, 2008 -- Activists across the country will take part in a National Day of Action to protest the Exxon-McCain '08 campaign on Tuesday, August 12. Tomorrow's events are the cornerstone of a week of grassroots activism in as many as 18 states aimed at highlighting Exxon John's promise of four more years of gimmicks and giveaways that line Big Oil's pockets but do nothing to help Americans deal with skyrocketing energy costs.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and senior Committee Member John Warner, R-Va., today announced the release of a report [PDF] by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing annual Iraqi oil revenues and Iraqi government contributions to security and reconstruction efforts in the country. This report was requested by the Senators in a March 6th letter to the Comptroller General.    » read more »

August 5, 2008 -- This week, with energy in the headlines and at the forefront of the economic struggles for America's families, Americans are demanding real solutions to soaring gas prices and the long-term energy crisis. But instead of looking ahead for comprehensive solutions to our nation's energy problems and towards reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and developing alternative energy sources, John McCain is turning to the Bush-Cheney play book which puts the interests of oil companies ahead of the interests of Americans. In fact, John McCain has at least 33 former oil lobbyists who advise him or fund-raise for his campaign.    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- This week, as John McCain continues on the Low Road Express, launching false attacks and airing desperate ads, donations from oil and gas companies are fueling his campaign - and driving his policies.    » read more »

Presidential Approval to Release Oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve would have most Immediate Impact at the Pump

August 1, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is urging President Bush to bring immediate relief at the gas pump. Feingold joined 35 other Senators in sending a letter to the President, authored by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), calling on the President to use his emergency authority to immediately release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Gas pump, Petrolia, California: Photo by gerry la Photo by gerry la londe-berg (CC)-berg (CC)    » read more »

August 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Below is a Statement from Senator Barack Obama on the ‘Gang of Ten Bipartisan Energy Plan' to Reduce Gas Prices and Break our Addiction to Foreign Oil:

"For too long, partisan gridlock and special interest influence has blocked progress on some of the most urgent challenges facing the American people, and that is especially true when it comes to our energy crisis. That is why I welcome today's bipartisan effort as an important step in the process of reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and why I look forward to September's bipartisan energy summit.    » read more »

July 31, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Below is a Statement from Senator Barack Obama on Record Exxon Mobil Profits While Americans Pay Skyrocketing Gas Prices at the Pump

"Perhaps the only thing more outrageous than Exxon Mobil making record profits while Americans are paying record prices at the pump is the fact that Senator McCain has proposed giving them an additional $1.2 billion tax break.

While Senator McCain's plan has succeeded in helping his campaign raise over $1 million from oil and gas company executives and employees just last month, it won't lower gas prices or end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil.    » read more »