08.06.12

Hoeven, Energy Committee Ranking Member Murkowski in Alaska to Promote National Energy Agenda

ANCHORAGE, A.K. – Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) this weekend joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for a two-day inspection of oil and natural gas exploration and production activities in Alaska. Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has been working closely with Murkowski, the committee’s ranking member, to advance the nation’s energy policies and bolster the economy. 

“Joining Senator Murkowski and seeing firsthand Alaska’s energy production facilities will help in our work to advance our nation’s energy goals,” said Hoeven. “North Dakota and Alaska are the number two and three oil-producing states in this nation, and with the right energy policies in place our states can help our country to become energy secure, while creating good jobs and economic growth.” 

Hoeven introduced, and Murkowski cosponsored, the Domestice Energy and Jobs Act of 2012 (DEJA), a comprehensive package of 13 energy bills that will not only reduce the high energy costs faced by hard-working families and small businesses, but also spur badly-needed economic growth and job creation across the U.S. economy. Additionally, Hoeven cosponsored the OPEN Act, legislation introduced by Murkowski that would expand American offshore energy production with a revised five-year leasing plan and provide revenue sharing to participating coastal states. 

The senators visited several oil and natural gas resource sites during their tour of northern Alaska, including a stop at ConocoPhillips’ Alpine field.  At one field, ConocoPhillips waited four years to receive a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to build infrastructure on federal land in order to begin development. Hoeven cited that as a clear example of the need to improve the federal permitting process. 

DEJA is designed to streamline and simplify regulations, boost domestic energy supplies, build American energy infrastructure and safeguard America’s supply of critical minerals used in modern high-tech manufactured products such as cell phones and computers.