Witnesses on both sides of the debate over whether to expand US crude oil exports used improved energy security and creation of more domestic jobs to support their viewpoints during a US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the subject. “It’s hard to believe that only a few years after campaigns for America’s energy independence were dominated by slogans such as ‘drill, baby, drill,’” Chairman Ronald L. Wyden (D-Ore.) said in his opening statement. “Now, this country is in the enviable position of having choices about its energy future,” Wyden said, adding, “In other words, the question becomes how this energy boom can create the greatest benefit for America.” Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.), the committee’s ranking minority member, reiterated her Jan. 7 call for the US to lift its ban on crude exports ( OGJ Online, Jan. 8, 2014 ). ““We should send a powerful signal to the […]