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Sep. 26, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid tries to reimpose oil shale extraction ban

By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Sen. Harry Reid
Nevada Democrat opposes letting moratorium expire

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is looking for openings to reimpose a ban on oil shale extraction in the West that is on the verge of expiring, aides confirmed Thursday.

A year-end spending bill the House passed this week would let the year-old moratorium expire Monday. That cheered Republicans and fossil energy advocates who see oil shale as a piece of an overall "energy freedom" strategy.

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    • Reid is not a fan of oil shale energy production. Critics say the technology needed to extract oil from the sedimentary rock leads to even more greenhouse gases than conventional oil drilling, and also requires large amounts of water.

    "Oil shale extraction has not proved to be economically viable," a Reid spokesman, Jon Summers, said Thursday. "We are all for domestic production, but this is not the best solution."

    The moratorium forbids the Department of Interior from finalizing regulations for oil companies to pursue shale projects, which are mostly in Utah and Colorado.

    Reid has drafted legislation to reimpose the moratorium. Summers could not say whether Reid might try to attach it when the House-passed bill is taken up by the Senate. Other Democrats said that was unlikely, because Congress must finish the bill by Oct. 1 or risk a government shutdown.

    Reid introduced a separate bill on Thursday that would reimpose the oil shale ban. It was part of a stimulus bill that Democrats argue is necessary to boost the flagging economy.

    The Senate stimulus bill would send $20 billion to states to boost Medicaid payments and to extend unemployment benefits for seven weeks in all states, and 13 weeks in states with high jobless rates. But President Bush and most Republicans oppose the stimulus.

    If no opportunities arise this year, Reid may look to halt shale oil development next year, Summers said.

    Rep. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and other backers contend oil shale holds between 800 billion and 2 trillion barrels of oil, more than three times the reserves in Saudi Arabia.

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    DONALD L. WHEATLEY wrote on October 08, 2008 02:26 PM: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH SEN. HARRY REID? WHY DOES HE NOT WANT THE US TO PRODUCE OIL, NO MATTER WHERE THE OIL IS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
    DOES THE SENATOR REID WANT US TO ALWAYS BE INDEBTED TO THE MIDDLE EASE OIL CARTEL FOR OUR ENERYG NEEDS.
    THE PEOPLE IN HIS STATE NEEDS TO OUST THAT GUY. HE CARES MORE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST THAN HE DOSE HIS CONSTITUENTS. AND THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA NEED TO DO THE SAME WITH PELOSI. NOW THERE'S TWO PEAS IN A POD IF THERE EVER WAS.


    Mike M wrote on September 28, 2008 09:26 AM: I'm a Republican who tolerates Reid because I realize that having one of our Senators as Senate Majority leader helps Nevada, but if Reid succeeds in killing shale oil development I think that it's time to vote him out of office.


    Phil wrote on September 27, 2008 11:42 PM: Typical Obama actions screw the country but say that your saving it...oops i meant Harry Reid...oil shale extraction is a stop gap measure that is necessary to foriegn oil dependence. Water in LV is readily available all we the people have to do is stop the feds from letting 90%of the Colorado river water from flowing to the ocean unused and let Powell and Mead fill up all the way unlike what the envornmental wackos want,which is to force everyone to leave the area.If he was really worried about energy policy perhaps he would force Developers to include solar panels and solar water heating systems on all new construction homes in the valley/nation. Talk about making a big reduction to green house gases and pollution...Heck maybe even give everybody in Nevada some earmark money to pay to install systems on all existing homes too. Oh thats right cant possibly interfere with his buddies at Nevada Power from ripping us all off


    David wrote on September 26, 2008 10:00 PM: Has anyone been to Search Light? Limp Noodle Reid alway's refrences Search Light as people and voter he's in touch with? If that's the case you gotta figure a radioactive plum settled over Search Light decades ago and the result is they love this Dip Stick, Limp Noodle good for squadousch moron named Harry Reid. As for the rest of Nevada I can say with confidence we want this dip-stick gone for good!


    Mike K. wrote on September 26, 2008 04:46 PM: When is this moron going to stop hurting the people of Nevada and the rest of America. Reid consistently takes the side of an issue that will cost the little guy more money he / she doesn't have.

    It must be nice being a millionaire with friend that will pay your property taxes on your own land deals!


    DICK JACKSON wrote on September 26, 2008 03:53 PM: I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY SENATOR HARRY REID AND MOST OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE SO AGAINST OIL SHALE EXTRACTION, OR OTHER OIL DRILLING ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. WITH THE USA HAVING LITERALLY BILLIONS OF BARRELS OF OIL UNDER THE OCEANS, IN ALASKA AND UNDER THE MOUNTAINS,SENATOR REID AND HIS COHORTS REFUSE TO ALLOW OIL COMPANIES TO RETRIEVE IT.WITH OIL PRICES AT ALL TIME HIGH,THE PRICE OF GASOLINE,DIESEL FUEL AND HEATING FUEL IS TAKING IT'S TOLL ON THE AMERICAN FAMILIES.TOO BAD, THESE POLITICIANS CAN'T BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE THEY RUIN THIS COUNTRY! ALL VOTERS SHOULD MAKE A LIST OF THE POLITICIANS WHO OPPOSE OIL DRILLING AND VOTE ACCORDINGLY.


    joe wrote on September 26, 2008 02:18 PM: So does anyone want to tell me where the water is supposed to come from since we're already using every last drop of it to keep our cities and farms from drying up? This is as stupid as growing crops to fuel cars or inventing a technology(hydrogen fuel cells) that requires MORE energy put into it than you would get out of it.


    BobT wrote on September 26, 2008 11:55 AM: Sen Reid is out of touch
    (a polite way of saying what I really think)
    Everyone wants to blame the Republicans but the Democrats have controlled congress for the past 2+ years and have done nothing to change our dependance on foreign oil


    sick and tired of Harry wrote on September 26, 2008 11:25 AM: Harry Reid is an idiot. I agree with Bobby - let's recall him. He does more harm than good. The sooner he is gone the better for Nevada and the west.


    Dr J wrote on September 26, 2008 11:18 AM: If the process isn't "economically viable" (Reid spokesman), then why would a business pursue this? Give me a break. Stop lying and choaking our economy.


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