Cannon Pushing Move to Ease Oil Shale Extraction
Congressman Cannon (R-Utah) hears Jason Chaffetz’ footsteps coming up fast from behind and figures he better introduce some legislation quickly that will help him stave off the serious challenge he is getting in the Utah Republican primary on June 24.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9534519
By Thomas Burr
The Salt Lake Tribune
WASHINGTON -
Riding the public outcry on soaring oil prices, Rep. Chris Cannon is introducing legislation that would allow the president to skip the red tape on permitting oil shale extraction.
It’s a move aimed at speeding up what Cannon calls a vast domestic energy source.
Utah, Colorado and Wyoming hold what some oil shale supporters say is a Saudi Arabian-sized reserve of synthetic oil in sedimentary rock that can be heated and processed into a fuel source. Six companies are now exploring the ability to extract the oil shale in Utah, but none are close enough to produce a commercially feasible product.
Cannon, a Utah Republican who is seeking re-election and faces an intraparty battle with Jason Chaffetz in two weeks, says his legislation will dramatically cut the time needed to open up fields of oil shale under federal lands.
Chaffetz called his primary opponent’s bill, days before the election, a “PR stunt.”
“He’s had his chance, and the time to act was when Republicans had the House, the Senate and the White House,” he said. “We didn’t even have to ask a Democrat back then.”
June 10th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
There’s nothing like rumors of “throw the bums out” to propel a candidate to get off his bum!