LiveBlogging the Energy & Commerce Hearing with Oil Executives
This morning executives from five of the largest oil companies in the U.S. – ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP America, and Shell – are testifying before the Energy & Environment subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Tony Hayward, BP’s chief executive, is not present. He will testify on Thursday. In his place is Lamar McKay, president of BP America.
Opening statements from committee members reveal intentions for both parties. Democrats, led by Chairman Markey, are focusing on the alarming similarity between the spill contingency plans of the oil companies. They are stressing the fact that no oil company seems truly prepared for another Deepwater Horizon, and recall disturbing facts such as "Like BP, three other companies include references to protecting
walruses, which have not called the Gulf of Mexico home for 3 million
years. Two other plans are such dead ringers for BP’s that they list a
phone number for the same long-dead expert."
Additionally, Dems are calling for renewed focus on clean energy and finding suitable alternatives to oil. Republicans, while displaying similar concern for the nature of the contingency plans and the effects of the spill, are repeatedly cautioning Democrats to refrain from using the hearing as impetus for a climate change bill. Clearly Republicans worry that what the hearing may show–the sad state of preparation for similar environmental disasters among the world’s largest oil companies–will give Democrats the necessary political context from which to pass the energy bill.
Opening statements from both members and executives are finishing up now. Stay tuned for live updates.