President Barack Obama continues his campaign themed State of the Union messages in Las Vegas, Nevada today by touting his newly adopted catch phrase from House Republicans - an “all-of-the-above” American energy plan. While President Obama may support a new catch phrase, he doesn’t support the actual policies that accompany a real all-of-the-above energy plan. President Obama is desperately trying to take credit for the results of previous Administration’s pro-energy polices and the success of new state and private energy production, while hiding his own record of blocking new U.S. energy production.

“If President Obama is going to use Republican energy talking points, he should also use some of our job-creating policies to open new areas, expand access and increase American energy production. This Administration’s lofty rhetoric on increased American energy productions do not match up with their job-destroying actions that have blocked new energy production on federal lands and waters,” said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings.“The state of Nevada has enormous potential for renewable and traditional energy production as well as mining critical minerals. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration’s policies have stymied that potential to flourish - costing jobs and economic growth.”

The Truth Behind Obama Administration Energy Claims

• Supposed “major announcement” of “new” offshore lease sales. Today, President Obama announced new offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. However, these lease sales were scheduled before he even took office. The combined lease sale includes one that was canceled for a year by the Obama Administration and another that was scheduled by the previous Administration for this year. The Obama Administration’s delays and cancelations of lease sales have destroyed jobs, caused a decline in American oil and natural gas production and harmed local economies.

• Obama Administration is NOT opening NEW offshore areas for energy production. Last year, the Obama Administration released a new draft offshore drilling five-year lease plan that CLOSES the majority of the OCS to new energy production through 2017. There is LESS offshore acreage open for energy production now than there was when President Obama took office when nearly 100% of the OCS was open for production. The Administration’s draft five-year plan prohibits offshore drilling in NEW areas and only allows lease sales to occur in the Gulf of Mexico, areas that are already open.

• Obama Administration policies are NOT responsible for increased energy production. President Obama is trying to take credit for previous Presidents Clinton and Bush’s pro-energy policies and the significant new state and private energy production. For example, North Dakota alone produced almost 16 million barrels of oil in January 2011, compared to only a little more than 2 million in January 2002.  The majority of North Dakota’s production is on state and private land where the Obama Administration’s restrictive policies cannot hinder production.

• Obama Administration has BLOCKED energy production on federal lands. The total onshore acreage leased under the Obama Administration in 2009 and 2010 is the lowest in over two decades, stretching back to at least 1984. Under the Obama Administration, 2010 had the LOWEST number of onshore leases issued since 1984.

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