RHETORIC:
Cody Stewart, energy advisor to Utah Governor Gary Herbert, told Utah lawmakers at an energy hearing that oil and gas production has decreased in recent years. CBS News, 10/18/2012.
REALITY:
Oil sales on public lands in Utah—proxy for production—have increased from an average of 8.5 million barrels of oil between 2006 and 2008 to an average of 11.2 million barrels of oil between 2009 and 2011. That’s an increase of 32 percent. Office of Natural Resource Revenue, 2/16/2012.
At the same time, natural gas sales have increased from an average of 2.25 billion cubic feet between 2006 and 2008 to an average of 2.75 billion cubic feet cubic feet between 2009 and 2011. That’s an increase of 22 percent. Office of Natural Resource Revenue, 2/16/2012.
Photo: Staplegunther, Wikipedia