Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Energy
Wyden - Sununu Amendment Would Stop Royalty Relief for Oil Companies
Washington, D.C. - In an effort that could save taxpayers more than $45 million over the next ten years, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Sununu (R-NH) introduced an amendment today that would repeal Sections 344 and 345 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). Repealing these provisions would stop the negotiation of certain future royalty relief incentives designed to encourage drilling for deep gas and existing deepwater oil and gas on public lands. "With oil selling for more than … Continue Reading
June 14, 2007
Wyden, Bennett Team Up to Put Millions of Fuel Efficient Vehicles on the Road
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced legislation today that would reward drivers for buying more fuel efficient cars, trucks and SUVs. The Oil Independence, Limiting Subsidies and Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency (OILSAVE) Act would offer consumers a tax credit for purchasing qualified energy-saving vehicles.The Wyden-Bennett legislation builds on earlier incentives for hybrid gasoline-electric powered cars, but unlike the hybrid credit, the … Continue Reading
June 13, 2007
Wyden-Chambliss Introduce "WISE" Legislation to Draw on Intelligence Community Energy Expertise
Washington, DC - In an effort to better inform U.S. energy policy, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) - members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - introduced legislation today that would assign the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit an unclassified report on the long-term energy security of the United States. The "Weighing Intelligence for Smarter Energy" (WISE) Act draws on the Intelligence Community's analytical expertise on global … Continue Reading
June 11, 2007
Senator Wyden Blows the Whistle on Under-Investment in Oil Refining and Production
Washington, D.C. - Illustrating how the oil industry's failure to invest in oil production and refining keeps gas prices artificially high, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced his plan today to take tax breaks away from oil companies that do not invest in new refinery capacity and upgrades."The consequences of the oil industry's anti-consumer behavior are clear. When there is less refining capacity, there is less ability to turn oil into gas. When there is less gas, prices go up. When … Continue Reading
June 04, 2007
Wyden Charges Administration with: "Buying nothing but higher gas prices for American families"
Washington, D.C. - As American gasoline prices hit record highs, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is questioning the timing of the Bush Administration's announcement that it will begin transporting 9.2 million barrels of Royalty In Kind crude oil to fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Slated to begin July 1, 2007, this would be the first installment of a 27 million barrel transfer to the SPR. In a letter to President Bush, Wyden expressed concern with the Administration's decision to … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden to Hold Up EPA NomineeOver High Levels of Benzene in Oregon, Northwest
Portland - Saying that Oregon and the Northwest could be hurt - not helped - by a proposed new federal rule regarding the amount of the cancer-causing chemical benzene that can be in gasoline, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today said he would hold up the confirmation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) General Counsel nominee Roger Martella unless the rule is changed to protect Oregonians and others in the Northwest.According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Pension Reform Bill with Key Provision for PGE Employees Now Heads to President
Washington, DC A provision by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith to help Portland General Electric (PGE) employees catch up on their retirement savings was included in a major pension reform bill passed by the full U.S. Senate late last night.Many PGE employees lost much of their retirement savings through Enrons unforgivable actions, Wyden said. This catch-up language will help the folks hurt by Enron to rebuild their retirement savings."No one should be faced with a loss of their … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden, Bennett Launch Plan to Put Millions of Energy-Saving Vehicles on American Roads
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) today proposed a plan that would reward drivers for buying more fuel efficient cars, trucks and SUVs.The Oil Independence, Limiting Subsidies and Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency (OILSAVE) Act would offer consumers a tax credit for purchasing qualified energy saving vehicles. The credit would be fully funded by eliminating a single, unneeded tax deduction currently available to oil companies."By limiting just one … Continue Reading
December 05, 2006
Wyden Testifies on Strategies to Reduce Gasoline Price Gouging
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a longtime advocate for American consumers hit by unfairly high gasoline prices, testified today before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing on energy pricing. In a 2004 report, Wyden sharply criticized the Federal Trade Commission for its failure to act on behalf of American consumers when oil company practices caused price spikes; in light of huge price increases following Hurricane Katrina he is suggesting more aggressive measures … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden, NW Senators Win Budget Provisions to Strike down BPA rate Hike Proposals
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that the Senate's FY2006 budget resolution now contains language that rejects the Bush Administration's proposal to force the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to increase rates to consumers. The budget language, coauthored by Wyden and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and agreed to by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, (R-N.H.), explicitly states that there should be no additional income in the Federal budget from … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
BPA Customers Would Pay $2.5 Billion More Under President's Budget Proposal, Wyden Says
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today blasted the President's proposed budget for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which would lead to higher electricity rates and less reliable service for customers of the BPA. "The Administration is proposing a $2.5 billion hit to the Northwest economy through BPA rate increases, while at the same time taking away the BPA's ability to improve the reliability of its transmission grid," Wyden said. "Low-cost power is the lifeblood of our … Continue Reading
September 22, 2006
Senate Commerce Committee Delays Vote on Nominee to Head FTC
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today delayed further consideration of the nomination of Deborah Majoras to become the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Today, because of a procedural rule invoked by Senator Wyden (D-Ore.), the Committee was blocked from considering Ms. Majoras' nomination. "I took this extraordinary step to send a clear message that protecting consumers is of the utmost importance, especially in the face of record … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Report Details FTC Failures to Fight High Gasoline Prices
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released a report detailing the Federal Trade Commission's role in allowing gasoline prices to reach historic highs across the United States. The report, entitled "Campaign of Inaction: The Federal Trade Commission's Refusal to Protect Consumers from Consolidation, Cutbacks and Manipulation in America's Oil and Gasoline Markets," draws on Wyden's years of investigating anti-consumer, anti-competitive oil industry practices in the Pacific … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Research Shows Law Would Force Majoras to Recuse on some FTC Oil, Gasoline Cases
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released research from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) indicating that Federal law would require Deborah Majoras, the current nominee to chair the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to recuse herself from some oil and gasoline industry issues coming before the Commission. Majoras has personally represented the oil giant ChevronTexaco as outside counsel in the last year; according to CRS, such a "past association" requires … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Resolution on President to Push OPEC, Aid Gasoline Consumers
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced a Senate resolution calling on President Bush to pressure OPEC nations to increase oil production to help reduce gasoline prices in the United States. The Wyden resolution mirrors legislation authored in 2000 by the current U.S. Energy Department secretary, then-U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), and the current U.S. Attorney General, then-U.S. Senator John Ashcroft (R-Mo.), calling on the Clinton administration to pressure … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Senate Majority Blocks Gas Price Relief by Stopping Wyden OPEC Resolution
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called for immediate consideration of his resolution calling on President Bush to pressure OPEC nations to increase oil production. Senate Republicans subsequently moved to block debate on the measure. The resolution (S. Res. 330) , which Wyden introduced on Friday, mirrors legislation authored in 2000 by the current U.S. Energy Department secretary, then-U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), and the current U.S. Attorney General, … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Calls for Immediate Action by FTC, Congress to Fight Gas Price Spikes
Washington, DC Citing a coming "perfect storm" in gasoline markets that will push prices past today's near-record highs, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today called for immediate action by Congress on the Gasoline Free Market Competition Act (S. 1737), his legislation pushing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect American consumers from anti-competitive practices at the pump. Wyden cited the FTC's inaction to stop gas price spikes, Shell Oil's planned closure of a 70,000-barrel-per-day … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Gas Price Competition Bill Sees Action in Senate Committee
Washington, DC - Continuing his efforts to reduce high gas prices, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today testified about his Gasoline Free Market Competition Act (S.1737) before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights. Wyden's legislation would compel the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to identify and stop market manipulation that drives up the price of gasoline. Also today, Chairman Timothy Muris failed to commit the FTC to an … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Presses for Lower Gas Prices at Hearing for Federal Trade Nominee
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today indicated that he will continue to block the nomination of Deborah Majoras to head the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), after Majoras failed to offer concrete commitments at her confirmation hearing as to how she would lead the agency to fight high gasoline prices. Wyden has long called on the FTC to stop oil company mergers, refinery closures and anti-competitive gasoline marketing practices that have been proven to drive prices up for … Continue Reading
June 17, 2004
Wyden obtains Energy Dept. commitment to meet maximum cleanup standards forHanford Nuclear Waste Tanks
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today obtained a commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy that the agency will not attempt to weaken standards for cleaning up nuclear waste in tanks at Hanford, Wash. Under questioning from Wyden, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management Jessie Roberson said that an Energy Department proposal to leave 10 percent of existing waste in the Hanford tanks far more than the one percent currently allowed under legal agreements is … Continue Reading
