Washington, D.C.—Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) released the following statement, and submitted testimony to the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, following today’s Senate hearing on responsible domestic energy production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

“The United States is unique among oil producing countries, in that we hold some of our best oil and gas resources inaccessible to industry based on often spurious concerns,” said SAFE President and CEO, Robbie Diamond. “Today’s drilling technologies allow for the safe and responsible production of ANWR’s resources which is less risky than deepwater offshore. Opening this area will improve our energy security by reducing our dependence on imported oil, create jobs for Alaskans, and make sure that there is oil supply in the future for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline which is starting to dwindle. It’s a no-brainer. However, SAFE would prefer that the revenue generated from ANWR be used for research and development to end our oil dependence by funding new transportation technology.”

The Senate Budget Committee directed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to identify $1 billion in annual revenue under the terms of its FY18 “reconciliation instructions.” The committee’s Chairwoman, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), acted quickly to begin the necessary conversations to best approach safe, responsible production in ANWR that will generate revenue and enhance our energy security here at home.

SAFE’s testimony included the following findings:

• Alaskan production represented over 20 percent of total U.S. crude production from the 1980s to the mid-1990s, greatly increasing U.S. energy security
• ANWR contains between 5.7 and 16.0 billion barrels of undiscovered technically recoverable oil.
• Alaska’s $4.9 billion state budget represents a 44 percent decrease over just five years. Economic benefits of renewed oil production would help Alaska regain its fiscal health and deliver improved social services.
• An 85-90 percent decrease in drill pad size since the 1970s minimizes the oil industry’s impact on ANWR.

More information on how production from ANWR can be leveraged to advance the nation’s broader energy security, see SAFE’s National Strategy for Energy Security.

About Securing America’s Future Energy

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil. Near-total dependence on petroleum in the transportation sector undermines the nation’s economic and national security, and constrains U.S. foreign policy. To combat these threats, SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency, and transportation sector innovations including electric vehicles, natural gas trucks, and autonomous vehicles. In 2006, SAFE joined with General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, to form the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of business and former military leaders committed to reducing the United States’ dependence on oil. Today, the ESLC is co-chaired by Frederick W. Smith and General James T. Conway (Ret), 34th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.

###