Secretary Salazar Defends Administration’s Energy Track Record, Urges Congressional Action

By Andrew Shaw

Today, at a luncheon hosted by the New Democrat Network (NDN), Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar offered a strong defense of the Obama Administration’s record on energy policy.

The timing of Secretary Salazar’s speech was not lost on the audience.  For instance, The Hill reporter Ben Geman asked Secretary Salazar why he was making two relatively high-profile energy speeches in as many days. Yesterday, Secretary Salazar had accused Republicans of living in an “energy fairytale” in another speech. Of course, Mitt Romney all but secured the Republican Presidential nomination with victories yesterday in five primary contests and Romney and other Republicans are sharply criticizing the Administration’s energy record. According to Secretary Salazar though, his speeches are an attempt to provide an “honest appraisal” of the Administration’s energy record.

In discussing gasoline prices, Secretary Salazar acknowledged that there is no “silver bullet” to insulate the U.S. from oil shocks like the country is currently experiencing.  Consequently, Secretary Salazar spoke of the Administration’s long-term “all-of-the above” energy strategy. Secretary Salazar touted increased domestic oil and gas development, stating that natural gas production is at an all-time high. Anticipating critics’ responses, he argued that the increase is due to development on both federal and private lands. With regard to renewable energy, he noted that Interior has permitted 29 solar, geothermal and wind projects on federal lands that total approximately 10,000 MW in new power.

Despite the looming elections, Secretary Salazar urged Congress to take action on what he described as three non-controversial measures. First, he called on Congress to codify reforms Interior made following the Deepwater Horizon accident. Second, he requested that Congress approve the trans-boundary agreement with Mexico related to offshore development in the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, he called on Congress to extend the production tax credits for renewable energy production, which are set to expire at the end of this year.

The Secretary speech today is unlikely to quell Republican criticism of the Administration’s energy policy. Nonetheless, it does demonstrate that the Administration is intent on forcefully defending its record on energy policy over the next several months.