It's always interesting to see how politicians use different words to describe the same thing. For example, some members of Congress call the Waxman-Markey bill that narrowly passed in the House an energy bill, while others call it a climate bill. In truth, it is a tax bill that, according to studies, threatens to sharply raise gasoline and diesel fuel costs as well as eliminate millions of jobs.

Now a new poll suggests that once registered voters focus on the potential impact of a Waxman-Markey type bill, about two-thirds oppose it. The poll, conducted by Harris Interactive in several states, shows that 65 percent of voters in New Mexico oppose the bill, along with 67 percent of voters in North Carolina, 63 percent of voters in Ohio, and 62 percent of voters in Texas. In each state, only... more »

How did you get to work, to school, or to the grocery store today? If you're like most Americans, you took some form of transportation powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. In the United States, where personal mobility is critically important, fuels refined from oil are a necessity. They power cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, trains, and are integral to the American way of life.

So, why did the U.S. House of Representatives pass a bill that could force the United States to depend on other countries for transportation fuels?

A study conducted by EnSys Energy and commissioned by API shows the House-passed Waxman-Markey climate bill could double the amount of refined products imported into the United States, reducing this nation's energy security and sending refinery jobs overseas.

If the Waxman... more »

At 7:26 a.m., Friday, August 21, in Lima, Ohio, the lead story on the local NBC newscast showed hundreds of people lining up in a parking lot for free food. They stood behind a panel truck from the West Ohio Food Bank as cardboard boxes were handed down to them.

One man standing in line said he was laid off in April. Others had similar stories.

At 11.2 percent (July 2009), Ohio has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. And northwest Ohio--the region that includes Lima and nearby Toledo--has been hit the hardest. "We're not just in a recession here, it's a depression," Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner told Reuters recently.

Yet, a new study shows the Waxman-Markey climate bill passed by the House could make Ohio's economic hardships worse. The CRA International analysis of the... more »

As I wrote yesterday, this is a monumental week for the energy industry. It marks the 150th anniversary of the first successful oil drill and the significant changes we've been able to make since. Now, more energy production is required for the maintenance of our emerging economy.

Below are some updates from API's Sara Banaszak, who's on the road with the "Rock Oil 2009" tour, headed up to Pennsylvania to visit the site of America's first oil well:

UPDATE: Friday, 10:00 a.m. "It will take us around 6 hours to drive from Washington, DC, to Titusville, PA. About an hour outside of Washington, we cross through the area that was used by Civil War General Robert E. Lee to march his Confederate troops north toward Gettysburg. They would march not more than 30 miles in a day. Today, most peopl... more »

Two more CRA International studies have been released, citing the likely economic impact of the Waxman-Markey bill. They show that the bill, if enacted, would reduce the number of jobs and lower purchasing power in both Ohio and New Mexico.

In Ohio, CRA International's analysis of the House-passed climate bill showed that as many as 114,100 jobs would be wiped out, and the average household's purchasing power would be reduced by as much as $1,070 a year.

In New Mexico, as many as 18,900 jobs would be eliminated by the Waxman-Markey bill, and the average household would lose as much as $1,230 in purchasing power every year.

Both states also would see tax receipts decline dramatically, which could take away funds for education, health and safety programs. Tax revenues in Ohio would shrink by... more »