President Obama has launched a series of trailblazing initiatives to protect the health and safety of the American people, reduce our dependence on imported oil and promote responsible use of domestic energy and new, clean energy technologies.

UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, OIL IMPORTS ARE DOWN AND ARE PROJECTED TO DECLINE FURTHER THANKS TO THE ADMINISTRATION’S NEW EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND INCREASED DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

According To The International Energy Agency, U.S. Oil Imports Are Expected To Decline Significantly Because Of New Fuel Efficiency Standards And Increased Domestic Oil And Gas Production, And By 2015, The U.S. Is No Longer Expected To Be The World’s Biggest Oil Importer. [International Energy Agency, 11/9/11]

In 2010, U.S. Dependence On Foreign Oil Fell Below 50% For The First Time Since 1997. [Energy Information Administration, 6/2/11]

As Domestic Demand For Oil Has Decreased, U.S. Exports Of Gasoline And Other Refined Petroleum Products Have Increased By Over 130% Between 2007 And 2010. [Energy Information Administration, 9/7/11]

Fuel Efficiency Standards Established By The Obama Administration For Model Year 2012-2016 Cars Will Conserve About 1.8 Billion Barrels Of Oil. [Joint NHTSA and EPA Press Release, 4/1/10]

• Fuel Efficiency Standards Proposed For Model Year 2017-2025 Cars Will Save Approximately 4 Billion Barrels Of Oil Over The Lifetime Of Cars And Light Duty Vehicles Sold In That Time Period. [The White House, 7/29/11]

In 2010, Crude Oil Production In The U.S. Reached Its Highest Annual Level Since 2003.[Energy Information Administration, accessed 10/11/11]

Natural Gas Production Is At Its Highest Level In More Than 30 Years. [Energy Information Administration, accessed 11/11/11]

PRESIDENT OBAMA CONTINUES TO CALL FOR THE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC OIL PRODUCTION, INCLUDING ENCOURAGING OIL COMPANIES TO UTILIZE THE LAND THEY’VE ALREADY LEASED

President Obama Has Called For The “Safe And Responsible” Expansion Of Domestic Oil Production And Has Worked To Speed The Leasing Process In Order To Give Oil Companies More Time To Implement Safety Measures To Prevent Spills.[CNN, 5/14/11]

Since President Obama Took Office, The Bureau Of Land Management Has Held 92 Oil And Gas Lease Sales, Leasing A Total Of More Than 2.5 Million Acres Of Land.[Bureau of Land Management, accessed 11/22/11]

The Number Of Oil And Gas Rigs Operating In The United Stated Has Increased 19% In The Past Year. [Bloomberg, 11/18/11]

The Obama Administration Released Its Oil And Gas Leasing Plan For 2012-2017, Expanding Areas Available For Drilling In The Gulf Of Mexico And Off The Coast Of Alaska. [Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management, accessed 11/8/11]

• The Plan Makes More Than 75% Of Undiscovered Oil And Gas Resources Available. [Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management, accessed 11/8/11]

President Obama Pledged To Speed Up Environmental Reviews So That Seismic Studies Of Areas Off The Atlantic Coast Can Be Surveyed For Oil And Gas Development. [Associated Press, 5/14/11]

The Obama Administration Will Hold Lease Sales For Oil And Gas Exploration In Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) Every Year. [New York Times, 6/16/11]

In 2010, The Department Of Interior Offered 190 Tracts Of Land Covering 1.8 Million Acres For Lease In The NPR-A. [Department of Interior, 7/9/10]

President Obama’s Energy Plan Includes Incentives Aimed At Encouraging Oil And Gas Companies To Utilize The Millions Of Acres They Already Have Leased For The Production Of Oil And Natural Gas. [Remarks by the President on America's Energy Security, 3/30/11]

The Department Of Interior Found That More Than Two-Thirds Of Leases In The Gulf Of Mexico And More Than Half Of Leases Onshore Were Idle As Of March 2011. [Department of Interior, 3/29/11]

•  70% Of Offshore Leases Are Neither Producing Oil Nor Awaiting Approval Of Exploration Or Development Plans. [Department of Interior, 3/29/11]
• 45% Of All Onshore Leases And 57% Of All Leased Acres Are Inactive. [Department of Interior, 3/29/11]

AT THE SAME TIME, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS INVESTED IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE GENERATING ENERGY RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA

President Obama Has Proposed A Clean Energy Standard With A Goal Of Generating 80 Percent Of The Nation’s Electricity From Clean Energy Sources By 2035. [The White House, “Blueprint For A Secure Energy Future,” 3/30/11]

Under President Obama, The Department Of Interior Has Approved 22 Major Renewable Energy Projects On Public Lands, Including 13 Solar Projects Could Produce Enough Power For Approximately 1.5 Million American Homes.[Department of Interior, 8/10/11]

The Obama Administration Is Supporting The Development Of The World’s Largest Wind Farm In Oregon, A Facility That Will Avoid Greenhouse Gas Emissions Equivalent To More Than 212,000 Cars. [Greenwire, 10/11/10]