Applauded

Representatives of the oil and gas industry earlier this week applauded the Bush administration’s effort to use gas royalties, in-kind or in-value, to bolster the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an oversight hearing on Tuesday to examine the possibility of expanding the Minerals Management Service’s existing royalty in-kind (RIK) pilot programs in Wyoming (oil) and the Gulf of Mexico (oil and natural gas) to meet the administration’s request.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) last week applauded the Bush administration move to create a Cabinet-level task force to address a national energy policy, but he said the effort would “barely scratch the surface” of all the critical energy issues facing the nation at this time.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) yesterday applauded the Bushadministration move to create a Cabinet-level task force to addressa national energy policy, but he said the effort would “barelyscratch the surface” of the real energy issues facing the nation atthis time.