You’ve seen the Energy Citizens Commercial. What you may not have noticed is that it’s paid for by the American Petroleum Institute.
A new oil industry-funded program called Energy Citizens has released a TV commercial stating “$4 gas; yet another unfortunate truth about congress’ climate bill. Make your voice heard now. Go to EnergyCitizens.org.”
Their website notes that “The Heritage Foundation has forecast gasoline prices could increase $1.38 per gallon by 2035. That means gasoline could easily reach, if not exceed, $4.00 a gallon.”
But according to the Environmental Protection Agency: “The increase in gasoline prices that results from the carbon price ($0.13 in 2015, $0.25 in 2030, and $0.69 in 2050 under Scenario 2 – H.R. 2454) is not sufficient to substantially change consumer behavior in their vehicle miles traveled or vehicle purchases at the prices at which low GHG emitting automotive technologies can be produced.” [EPA Analysis of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 H.R. 2454 in the 111th Congress, pg 61, accessed 9/28/09; emphasis added]
In Context, Gasoline Prices Raised $2.59 Under President Bush. According to the Energy Information Administration, from January 22, 2001 to July 14, 2008, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline raised from $1.456 to $4.054. [Energy Information Administration, accessed 9/28/09]
It gets even more under handed. A petroleum industry trade group is asking oil companies to recruit employees and retirees to attend rallies attacking climate-change legislation, an approach to grass-roots politics that resembles strategies used recently by some opponents of health-care reform.
Here’s the rub. The Petrolium industry is using scare tactics to try to vote down climate legislation. What they dont tell you is that New Fuel Efficiency Standards Would SAVE Drivers $3,000 On Gasoline.
According to USA Today: “The rules would phase in with 2012 models, when the current rules end, and escalate so that by the 2016 model year, the industry would have to average the equivalent of 35.5 miles per gallon. The administration estimates the rules would add an average of $1,100 to the price of a car but could save $3,000 on fuel over the vehicle’s life.” [USA Today, 9/16/09]
Big Oil’s house is divided though. Shell Oil and BP America, both members of the American Petroleum Institute, are also members of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, which has supported a “cap and trade” approach. Spokesmen for both companies said yesterday they would not participate in the “Energy Citizen” rallies.
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These guys need a taste of the yes men
Right you are Nick!