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Rep. Joe Barton, (R-Texas), on the investigation into the administration’s federal loan guarantees for green energy companies such as Solyndra.
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On Capitol Hill energy secretary Steven -- becoming somewhat accustomed to difficulty when he testifies.
Before the house energy.
The Nobel Prize winning physicist.
Couldn't tell congress how many Green energy companies have received Obama administration.
Federal loan guarantees.
Nor could -- tell them how many of those companies are now on our watch list for possible bankruptcy.
And that -- meeting.
Loans are on the what I think you called the watch list.
That we had -- the proprietary.
Well I don't have that exact number but the did a double digit number is it you know.
Is it between one -- intended -- Well what we I don't again -- recall the exact number.
Well joining us now the congressman who asked secretary -- -- just a few answers about the Green energy loans energy and commerce committee member.
Congressman Joseph Barton good to have you -- this congressman.
Are -- -- -- the Nobel Prize winning physicist wouldn't wouldn't be able to give you what seemed like very basic information about a program.
That's been a focus of your your inquiries in the committee and the national media -- -- -- very long time now.
Well you gotta understand -- that I was asking the real tough question he.
He is after all only a former director a major national research laboratory and a Nobel Prize winner.
So -- asking about.
The -- basic math is it a number between one in ten or ten and twenty I guess I'm just asking too much on the half the taxpayers that he be able to.
To recollect that bent down the list of loans is public we know how many companies have received the loans.
And we'll just go through moments we have to one -- one and and do our own in -- out of Chicago I'm a little surprised that -- all haven't already done that.
-- were pretty well well we -- here.
We have focused.
You know and so lender and and you want to.
I have your -- all lined -- we still haven't gotten all the documents from the white house on that.
But as you point out we are down the road and we only have another nine months in this congress so we.
We need to and we need did find out about the of the scope of the problem my guess is it's bigger rather than smaller and it's.
More intense rather than less intense and secretary knows them but he doesn't want -- -- -- in.
But it doesn't understand is that that the public the voters have a right to know and and we're gonna help get that information.
But hey have you sorted out exactly where -- you in this administration.
RR when it comes to the efficacy and attractiveness of lower gasoline prices.
Do we have a clear read now on that this administration -- energy secretary.
Well that did the president talks a good game.
About domestic energy production he wants to do -- natural gas but he's not really -- into.
Natural gas bill.
He claims that the government -- hydraulic fracturing which is.
At -- they gross mistake from the fact.
But yet they're did that EPA and that the Interior Department.
They go out of their way to stymie permits to stop projects we had a hearing yesterday on gasoline prices and in that hearing.
A takes three to seven years get a permit to it to drill on federal lands and taxes on private lands it takes two to three days.
PI it's it's quite it's quite a processes and -- and it's quite a -- by this administration.
Let's turn to secretary choose comments regarding oil production and the -- it to me it's firstly my personal view is it's it's it's very frustrating to hear people talk about tenure plans to -- -- line.
Crude oil.
But the secretary said the production of petroleum liquids has risen significantly in and that he is correct.
But numbers from and we want to quote this and and put this up on the year remained congressman and for all the folks at home watching you.
That the secretary -- based on these numbers from the institute for energy.
-- search.
The administration shouldn't be claiming much credit if any.
Well for oil production or production effect on federal lands as deep crease by 11% night.
Natural gas production is actually fallen by 6%.
To just make it very clear where we're watching there.
Oil production on state and private plans and this goes to your point about how long it takes to get a permit and Texas has actually risen -- 14% while natural gas on those private and state lands.
Has has risen by 12%.
I don't know what -- secretary chairs say would confronted with that reality.
Well he he hymns involves I would point out that.
The use of hydraulic fracturing in shale oil in Texas is gonna lead about 400000 barrels of oil production per day.
This year and that could triple in the next six to seven years been North Dakota.
Day may hit a million barrels a day.
There and seven great years ago they were probably producing a 100000 barrels a day so the private sector.
In domestic producers will work.
With the right market signals.
If we if we have the infrastructure in place and let them do their job and -- -- -- public lands it's a different story the federal lands are basically for all the rhetoric.
Off limits for any kind of comprehensive.
Production program and off -- we should be very clear.
By decree from this president and his administration if it's that straightforward.
I guess like he is on the Keystone Pipeline you know he says he's not against it but he calls senators to vote against it -- Well he's not against domestic energy production but his administration really doesn't do any thing to Foster.
Yeah I've never seen so much help for something -- -- supported.
This president supply would have been after the Keystone Pipeline.
Congressman always good to talk grieve thanks for being here --
