U.S. Dependence on OPEC Jumps Seven Points in a Year

WASHINGTON – House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement this afternoon regarding figures from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicating U.S. reliance on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) grew from 50.9 percent of total crude imports in 2006 to 57.6 percent in 2007:

“For a majority party that never wavered in its promises to wean America off foreign oil and put us on a path toward energy independence, these figures from the EIA are absolutely striking. Not only have Democrats failed to end our reliance on the Middle East for essential energy, they’ve actually helped grow that dependence to historic and dangerous new levels — all because of their doctrinaire refusal to allow responsible energy production here at home.


“The result is a level of dependence on OPEC and the Middle East that we’ve simply never seen before — not even in the darkest days of the Carter administration. But instead of working with Republicans to approach the energy issue from common sense perspective, this majority remains tied to a dogma that insists responsible energy development and sound stewardship of our environment are mutually exclusive endeavors.

“House Republicans reject that conclusion — as well as the notion that $105 oil is a mystic phenomenon over which we have absolutely no control. Unlocking new supply, expanding U.S. refining capacity, and clearing the way for clean alternatives such as nuclear energy to take root — all of these things would have a downward impact on our dependence, and a stabilizing effect on price. Unfortunately, none of these items are on the table for a congressional majority that’s used to promising the moon, and then charging you the world for it.”

PR Newswire