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Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar addresses key energy issues facing the U.S.
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That's all of us it is the right continues to climb to the country the Obama administration coming under fire as we mention the president now -- -- to date tour visiting -- stage.
The town of energy -- -- joining us right now in a Fox Business interview I'm from Las Vegas is Ken Salazar US secretary at beginning the interior.
I'm secretary -- our thanks for taking time -- for us today we appreciate it.
Thank you Melissa.
So you heard us talking about it the price of gasoline going through the roof what is the president doing right now to bring the price down.
But the president is embarked on and all of the above energy strategy which has -- part of the energy strategy from day one for President Obama.
There is no silver bullet and anybody who's out there saying that there is a quick fix or magic wand simply doesn't all the factual history there have been.
Over Paul Price shocks oil and gas in the post World War II -- -- And no president has been able assault -- this president has embarked on a long term strategy that includes.
Producing oil and gas as we are doing all across this country going forward with.
Fuel efficiency -- medical's.
No clear renewable energies and a whole host of other things and that really is what we need to do to have.
The American people in a position where we don't go through the key to paid a price shocks we've gone through in the past.
Well let's talk about some of those details did you say in all -- about strategy.
Permits in the Rockies right now in this administration are down 70%.
Verses permits and the last administration do you think that's a good idea given the potential the Bakken shale -- and the natural gas revolution that we've seen in this country.
Melissa I think your statistics are wrong but the fact of the matter is that we have increased.
Oil production by 13% just on public lands alone.
And -- three years in comparison to last for years of the Bush Administration.
There are 7000 permits that are sitting idle than not companies happens we have fifty million acres of labs that have been leased out.
To oil and gas companies both farmland as -- -- the -- And so.
Would be attacked that somehow we are not making public funds available for oil and gas production.
It's simply false attack the truth is that there's lots of reproductive it is being it made available.
Under this administration including got huge new plays in places like the Dakotas.
This is like Iraqis a -- top lots -- PRA of the Gulf of Mexico and many other areas.
Well actually my -- on Iraqis are from the Department of Energy.
In do you think that that's an area that we need to be doing even more in right now doing more with the shale that's available there.
You know we are we have we are supporters of natural gas -- president's energy portfolio has included natural gas from day one.
He is bullish about the future of American natural gas because it's one of the keys to get us energy independence.
The Rockies or -- -- part of that we're producing great amounts in not Colorado and Utah and the New Mexico.
We'll be in Carlsbad later today -- the president actually will be visiting.
One of the public -- areas where.
The all beat the production of oil to date is that -- -- as a fifteen time fifteen year high.
And there are over seventy rigs that are actually out there working on the ground lots of permits that are being issued so oil and gas are part of that an energy portfolio for the future.
OK let me ask you about two other issues.
I talk to people from the Sunoco refinery in Warren Pennsylvania.
Where that refineries going bankrupt they're shutting it down because they can actually make money.
On refining gasoline right now because the price of oil is so high.
What do you think that the president could do about that one of their big issues is they're getting crude oil from London right now.
The value of the dollar comes into play on that there's also the lack of availability -- Keystone Pipeline would help with that.
How about those issues.
He has the president's all of the above energy strategy includes addressing the issues of infrastructure and so up.
One of the things that study strongly believes is we need make sure that we're investing in infrastructure this country and that includes enough pipelines and and other forms -- -- and is -- But he will be in Cushing Oklahoma tomorrow and he'll address key part of that over the of that -- -- but the fact is that under this administration.
Dozens of pipelines have been built around the country thousands of miles have been permitted.
And so the fact is that in order for us to make sure that we have energy security for the United States for the long term.
This president believes that we need to continue to implement the -- we have been working -- so hard philosophy here.
Your secretary -- -- I don't feel like you're answering the question on keystone can you tell me do you support the Keystone Pipeline do you think that's something we need in this country provides.
Hundreds and hundreds of jobs and it provides that.
For thousands of jobs and it provides you know desperately need oil this country do you support the Keystone Pipeline.
Most I would say that the Keystone Pipeline has been built to -- the last two years the the the Keystone Pipeline itself now the enlargement there are two parts to it.
But the president will speak to is enlargement that includes southern part of the pipeline.
That you that he has not reached a judgment the United States is not reached a judgment about what other apple with with the respect for the -- -- pipeline.
Because there's no application has been filed by TransCanada.
Given the fact the Nebraska and the Nebraska Republican governor and legislature.
Have a -- have agreed to move the pipeline but no application has yet been filed because they are still waiting for.
That the -- legislature to act and that cuts capital move forward with the application and so those were using the Keystone Pipeline.
As an attack -- energy policies and and quick fix a gas prices prices are simply wrong.
Mr.
secretary I think Americans are frustrated to see so much of their wallet.
Going to the pump right now what would you say to people who are angry with the president because they don't feel like that there is a solution.
And any idea there's no silver bullet is not a satisfying answer what would you say to consumers.
I would say that.
We need to make sure that we -- you know on a sustained course with an energy policy that is an all of the above strategy that does include oil and gas and nuclear and solar and wind and geothermal and -- cars -- make 55 miles.
To a Gallic gasoline.
That's a kind of the all of the above energy strategy that will make sure that.
Paul Price shocks that this country has experienced.
In the last years after World War II including recent ones including one in 2008 and 2003.
That we don't get into that kind of painstaking.
World to get the kind of painstaking.
Reality that we face today and that's why the president's illustration of what we have done -- -- -- with the all of the above energy program.
I think a very important and I think that Americans who really understand the facts understand the history.
Gas prices will know that there's -- silver bullet.
And up what America needs most is to make sure that we have a sustained energy policy by the -- President Obama has -- been working on since -- one.
Doesn't seem like it's working -- right secretary's sounds are we so we thank you for your time on the Saturday thank --
