Citizen Gas & Oil Advisory Lobby

Douglas Grandt
(510) 432-1452

P.O. Box 6603

Lincoln, NE
68506-0603

Freedom of choice
What do petroleum and food have in common?
For sure, they both are stored energy. Anything else come to mind?
What about choice?
We enjoy a wide range of choice at breakfast, for example cereals, eggs, pancakes, bacon,
yogurt, waffles, crepes, pastries, meats, biscuits and gravy. We have abundant choices in
vegetables and fruits for our table. Flowers and trees for our yard. Furniture and appliances for
our homes. Choices are almost overwhelming. We are free and independent to choose.
But what about the fuel for our cars and trucks and jets? Gasoline? Diesel? Kerosene?
You and I really dont have much choice.
For the most part, each of us really has only one choice: take it or leave it. That is no choice.
Can we ever be energy independent? What does that mean, if we depend on petroleum.
What if the world price of oil remains low by the manipulation of supply by the Saudis? They
appear to have only one objective: to maximize market share and sell every last drop of their
petroleum reserves as quickly as possible, even if it is at a price that kills the competition.
What if the low price drives American petroleum producers out of business because they
cannot make a profit? If producers file bankruptcy, who will snap them up and keep the oil
flowing? Will the supply of petroleum feedstocks continue to meet the needs of the thirsty
refineries, or will refinery production fall below minimum operating capacity forcing them to be
shut down one at a time? Where will you and I get our gasoline, diesel and kerosene when
supply falls short? Energy independence does not come with petroleum dependence.
When a production company cant make a profit, will it act in the national or public interest?
When a refining company cant make a profit, will it act in the national or public interest?
Congress will soon debate and vote on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 and the
Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act of 2015 which have as their premise
that exporting Americas glut of oil and gas into the international market is in the national and
pubic interest. Congress has not defined national interest or public interest, nor has either
chamber had any discussion or debate on either of these two concepts,
The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 is touted as a broad, bi-partisan energy bill by
the Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in spite of substantial
rifts within the committee and party-line votes to exclude several key progressive amendments.
Demand answers from your Representative and Senators. Take the future into your own hands.