Oil and gas industry leaders lobbed criticism at the Obama administration Wednesday, using the stage of an annual industry conference in Houston to assert that the domestic energy boom has occurred in spite of what they call a corrosive energy strategy out of the White House.
Energy executives and other industry players took President Barack Obama to task during the Winter NAPE Conference, an annual expo of oil and gas prospects, technology exhibits and industry networking.
They said the White House has limited the availability of federal land for drilling and created an atmosphere of uncertainty over future regulations and taxes, reinforcing the nation's tether to oil imports and keeping gasoline prices high.
"These have been the most difficult three years from a policy standpoint that I've ever seen in my career," said Bruce Vincent, president of Houston-based oil and natural gas producer Swift Energy. "They've done nothing but restrict access and delay permitting."
"The Obama administration, unfortunately, has threatened this industry at every turn."
Oil and gas leaders slam Obama - Houston Chronicle