As the presidential election campaign heats up, it appears energy again will be a nonissue.
Oil and gas prices are very low, and that's good politics. Never mind that drilling is at a nadir, production is plunging, and oil companies have halved their employment.
Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, the Democratic party nominee for the White House, has shown no particular interest in energy issues.
DEMOCRATS' PLATFORM
In the drafting of the Democratic platform, Clinton opposed exploration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and gasoline tax increases.
The platform says, "We reject the Republican myth that energy efficiency and environmental protection are enemies of economic growth. We will make our economy more efficient by using less energy, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and producing less solid and toxic waste."
The platform advocates mass transit, use of alternative fuels and natural gas, development of clean coal technology, renewable energy research, conservation, and unnamed "incentives for domestic oil and gas operations."
In fairness, that also summarizes the omnibus energy bill pending in Congress, which the Bush administration proposed.
The Democratic platform also vows to "oppose new offshore oil drilling and mineral exploration and production in our nation's many environmentally critical areas and address ocean pollution by reducing oil and toxic waste spills."
Clinton's choice of Sen. Albert Gore (D-Tenn.) for his running mate reinforces his proenvironment stand. An energy association once gave Gore a 17% rating because of his antioil voting record.
President Bush countered last week with a speech at Sequoia National Forest citing his environmental record.
The one time Bush boasted about his energy record, just before the Texas primary (OGJ, Mar. 16, p. 63), it sounded rather shallow.
Although a former oilman, Bush has distanced himself from the industry. He has decided to place much of the Outer Continental Shelf off limits to drilling, an action expanded in the latest 5 year offshore leasing plan.
To his credit, Bush has pushed for ANWR leasing and supported minor tax relief for independents. And he embraced the most comprehensive energy legislation in a decade, although it would do little to encourage gas production and nothing for oil exploration.
Atop his spotty record, Bush so far has made no promises about helping the oil industry during his second term.
PEROT A QUESTION MARK
No one knew where former independent candidate Ross Perot stood on energy, apparently including Perot himself.
However, Perot often made admiring remarks about oil operators and appeared more concerned about imports--presumably including oil--than the other candidates.
Copyright 1992 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.
