Abraham pushes for increased US oil production

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham called for increased US energy production and refining facilities, particularly in the face of OPEC's resolve to cut oil output. "It's critical that we start developing our energy sources here at home," Abraham told, when asked about the impact of OPEC's decision.
"If you reduce the supply worldwide, it's going to impact," he said, adding that it would take 45 to 60 days before the tighter oil market hits the gas pump. But Abraham dismissed the idea of opening up the country's strategic oil reserves to ease any possible energy crunch.
"We ought to use strategic reserves for a real crisis," he said. He also noted that when former president Bill Clinton released oil from the reserve, the United States did not have the refining capacity to deal with it.
"We actually exported the oil the president released to be refined overseas," Abraham said, emphasizing the need for more US refineries. Abraham is scheduled to deliver later a major policy address before the US Chamber of Commerce, which is expected to focus on the US energy situation.