Congressman seeks to open US natgas production

14 March 2007 23:27  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (ICIS news)--Congressman John Peterson (Republican-Pennsylvania) said on Wednesday he will introduce legislation within a week to open broad areas of the US outer continental shelf to natural gas production.

Speaking at an American Chemistry Council reception, Peterson praised the Bush administration’s campaign to increase corn-based and cellulosic-based ethanol production.

“These are good things, but they will not keep this country competitive,” he said.

Natural gas is a key feedstock for the US petrochemical industry.

Citing the 25-year-old Congressional moratoria against drilling off the US east and west coasts, he asked participants to “don’t give up on us yet - we are going to have a good bill” for increased outer continental shelf access.

Peterson also said he and others in Congress are going to press the Bush White House to take a more active role in getting Congress to open outer continental shelf regions at least to natural gas production.

“My goal this year is to keep poking the White House until they get involved,” Peterson said.

Peterson said his bill will call for opening outer continental shelf regions beyond 25 miles from shore only to natural gas production.

Last year, Peterson was among a core group of members of Congress who succeeded in getting legislation passed to open a small portion of the eastern US Gulf region to energy production.

“We are just beginning” Peterson said. “If we waste a month in getting renewed access to the OCS [outer continental shelf], we are making a grave mistake for the future of this country.”

Peterson was among four members of Congress being honoured by the American Chemistry Council as legislators of the year. The others were Senators Mary Landrieu (Democrat - Louisiana) and Pete Domenici (Republican - New Mexico) and Congressman Neil Abercrombie (Democrat - Hawaii).

By: Joe Kamalick
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