Herrera senses victory for ANWR

Steve Sutherlin

The pro-drilling camp appears to have enough votes lined up in the House to pass the energy bill that would open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for exploration, Roger Herrera told PNA at press time, adding that he expected the bill to be voted on the floor Aug. 1. The bill will be voted as three packages or all together, to be determined prior to the vote. Herrera, who works for Arctic Power, expects the measure to pass the full House either way. The Senate will address the bill after the summer recess that begins Aug. 3.

“Prospects are much brighter than the general media would have you believe,” he said.

But he warned that votes can change hourly, and it is still important for ANWR supporters to contact their representatives in support of the issue.

“A majority in the house will send a strong message to (Senate Majority Leader Tom) Daschle,” he said, adding that there is significant momentum to pass an energy measure.

“Congress for its own political survival must pass an energy bill before elections, the contents are academic,” he said. “We have the advantage of the White House on our side and huge armies of labor people helping us because of their perceptions of the jobs it will create.”

“Our biggest disappointment has been the opposition we get out of Washington state,” he said.

“We find that hard to understand and stomach because of the tremendous benefits (of ANWR development) to Washington state.”