FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2006
Contact:
William
Lutz 202.772.0269
Drilling
Won't Lower Gas Prices:
Drillers'
Fuzzy Math Misleads American Consumers
Certain members of Congress keep trying to
convince the American people that if we had opened the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to oil drilling 10 years ago, we wouldn’t be facing the high gas prices
we face today. The Bush administration’s own facts tell us differently.
Oil from the Arctic Refuge would not even begin
to affect the price of a gallon of gasoline for 20 years from the time the
refuge is first drilled, and even then it would only lower gas prices by about a
penny per gallon.
Now consider that with technology that exists
today we could produce all new vehicles that get 40 miles per gallon within 10
years. This kind of mileage in the near future would save the average driver
$2,200 over the lifetime of their vehicle.
One penny in twenty years and the loss of even
more American wilderness, or $2,200 in ten years and an untouched refuge for
polar bears, caribou and countless other creatures.
You do the math.
**UPDATE***
As
reported in Congress
Daily (May 2,
2006):
"House Speaker
Hastert after meeting with ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson
today said Congress should concentrate on opening the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge to drilling rather than the
rebate."
The American people oppose this idea,
they've rejected it time and time again - Congressional
leaders need to stop meeting with oil-rich executives
and commit to a plan that reduces our country's
dependence on oil - not fuel it.
###
Defenders
of Wildlife is a
leading nonprofit conservation
organization recognized as one of
the nation's most progressive
advocates for wildlife and its
habitat. With more than 490,000
members and supporters, Defenders
of Wildlife is an effective leader
on endangered species issues.
|
