Smith, Nelson support increase in oil drilling

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., expressed support for President Bush's decision Monday to lift the 1990 executive ban on the exploration for oil and gas in the Outer Continental Shelf.

But in order for Bush's action to take effect, Smith said, Congress must lift another prohibition on offshore drilling for exploration to occur.

"I applaud President Bush for lifting this prohibition," Smith said. "Unfortunately, Congress has not displayed a similar urgency to explore American sources of energy. Instead, we are going to see more of the same, with no relief in sight for American consumers."

Oil prices were $145 per barrel Monday after closing at a record high Friday of more than $147 per barrel.

According to Nebraska AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Monday, regular gas prices in the state averaged $4.04 per gallon, up 66 cents per gallon from a year ago. Diesel prices, at $4.74 per gallon, were at a record high.

 Smith will be touring the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., Friday, where researchers are working on solar, wind, hydrogen, biomass, and fuel cell technologies. 

Smith, who is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee where he's a member of the Energy and Mineral Resource Subcommittee, will also travel to Prudhoe Bay and Alaska's North Slope to tour potential drilling areas, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Smith supports drilling in ANWR.

According to an Associated Press story Monday, the ban lifted by Bush was an executive order signed by his father, President George H.W. Bush, in 1990. The congressional ban has been in place for 27 years.

According to Bush, offshore drilling could yield up to 18 billion barrels of oil over time, although it would take years for production to start.

Bush also has proposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, along with lifting restrictions on oil shale leasing in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and easing the regulatory process to expand oil refining capacity.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., also supports increased off-shore drilling, but not drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"I have supported drilling on shore and off shore and continue to do so," Nelson said. "I believe that more intensive drilling in the Gulf of Mexico could be very beneficial in easing the strain we are currently feeling.  I think that further research into drilling on either coast is important as well. We need to look at all of our options and leave nothing off the table."

But what concerns Nelson are the 68 million acres of onshore and offshore land leased for drilling now that are not being tapped.

"We need to know why," he said. "And we need to know if we can move forward in those areas."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.