Obama Admin Say No To Huge Oil & Jobs Source

Not surprising yet disappointing just the same:

Institute for Energy Research (IER) president Thomas J. Pyle issued the following statement today after the Interior Department announced its plans to withdraw from consideration acreage in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming where research and development of a small portion of our nation’s homegrown oil shale reserves had previously been scheduled to take place:

“Earlier this week, Secretary Salazar suggested America’s massive and homegrown reserves of oil shale held ‘great potential.’ Unfortunately, the Interior Department’s decision today may help ensure that potential never becomes reality – in the process, locking-away an American energy resource larger than the total reserves of the entire Middle East.

“At a time of great economic uncertainty, with millions of Americans out of work and state budgets stretched beyond their breaking point, responsible development of America’s abundant shale resources could be a way out of our current condition, and a way back to a better one. The Interior Department’s announcement today effectively forecloses that opportunity.”

I see why Salazar would do this; I mean the potential for thousands of jobs, massive amounts of equipment that will need to be procured helping manufacturing, energy independence and low fuel prices must always be trumped by environmental concerns, right?

Here we are in what Obama claims is the worst economy since the Great Depression and his administration is intentional stopping industry from creating a viable and lucrative new energy sector.

I'm felling all hopey and changey, y'all.

Via: Instapundit.