Energy Dept. Has ‘Serious Concerns’ About House Oil Reserve Bill

The Energy Department has “serious concerns” about House legislation that would tie Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases to increased drilling on federal lands and waters, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm wrote to House lawmakers Wednesday.

• “This bill would significantly weaken this critical energy security tool, resulting in more oil supply shortages in times of crisis and higher gasoline prices for Americans,” Granholm wrote to leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
• The Strategic Production Response Act (H.R. 21) would make it harder to increase supply “when the market needs it most,” Granholm wrote
• NOTE: Bill could receive a House vote next ...