Congressional report notes U.S. resource supplies

27-Oct-2009

Data from the Congressional Research Service, released by Republicans James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, indicates that America has far more fossil fuel resources than any other nation.

In CRS' analysis, recoverable oil reserves in the U.S. are greater than the official estimate of 21 billion barrels. In fact, CRS determined that reserves approximate 167 billion barrels. And the service points out the upward reevaluation of U.S. natural gas reserves between 2006 and 2009.

The estimated supply of natural gas rose 25 percent in that time.

In coal reserves, America is solidly in first place, ahead of India, China, and Russia.

Inhofe and Murkowski sharply criticized the Obama administration for failing to promote fossil fuel recovery and development, noting the classification of oil- and gas-rich areas as polar bear habitat and the elimination of funding for ultra-deepwater drilling research.

Inhofe is a noted climate change skeptic and Murkowski comes from a resource-rich state, making their release of the CRS data unsurprising. Politics aside, experts agree that America will be reliant on fossil fuels for many years to come.

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