An oil and gas industry front group with a questionable record is trying to take on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The oil- and gas-funded Institute for Energy Research (IER) released a report today in an attempt to counter the CBO’s August analysis of the economic effects of opening more public land to drilling.In their report the CBO estimated “about 70 percent of undiscovered oil and gas resources are on federal lands that are available for leasing.”
The IER’s new ‘Beyond the Congressional Budget Office’ report actually goes beyond the facts,” said Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Greg Zimmerman. “Rather than look at market drivers and economic realities, IER is hiding behind the oil and gas industry’s favorite talking points and putting their questionable credibility up against the Congressional Budget Office.”
A few facts about the IER and its claims:
—Depressed prices for natural gas and new drilling techniques are causing companies to move away from natural gas plays on public lands. Thousands of acres of shale oil plays are being made available to drilling companies in the west, and along the West Coast.
—IER Received $307,000 From ExxonMobil Since 1998. According to Greenpeace, “Institute for Energy Research has received $307,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.” [Greenpeace, ExxonSecrets.Org, accessed 2/5/13]
—IER Research Director Steve Hayward Attempted To Pay IPCC Scientists To Criticize Findings That Supported Climate Change. According to the National Defense Resource Council, “One of IER’s directors, Steven Hayward of the American Enterprise Institute, was exposed in 2007 for attempting to pay IPCC scientists to criticize the IPCC’s findings on climate science. IER has received funding from ExxonMobil.” [National Resource Defense Council, Clean Energy Smears, accessed 2/5/13]
—IER’s CEO Is A Former Enron Executive. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, “Robert Bradley, a former Enron executive, is the CEO of IER and one of its founders. Thomas Pyle, a former Koch and oil-industry lobbyist, is the President of IER and the American Energy Alliance, the 501c4 counterpart to IER.” [National Resource Defense Council, Clean Energy Smears, accessed 2/5/13]