06.17.14

Hoeven Statement on North Dakota Producing One Million Barrels of Oil a Day, a New Record

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement regarding news that North Dakota is producing one million barrel of oil a day mark. In 2000, North Dakota produced less than 100,000 barrels of oil per day:

“Today, the North Dakota Petroleum Council announced that our state has topped one million barrels of oil production a day. That is the collective achievement of many individuals and companies that have worked tirelessly for more than a decade to build this important industry in North Dakota. It is possible because we built a good business and regulatory environment to attract investment and innovation to the Bakken.

“Reaching the one million barrel a day mark is a tremendous and timely milestone for the petroleum industry and our state, but it is also a tremendous milestone for our nation. If recent events in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere in the world teach us anything, it is that we must build our domestic energy resources and reduce our reliance on Middle Eastern oil to strengthen America’s national and economic security.

“Nationally, there was more good news during the past week. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the United States in 2013 produced 84 percent of its energy needs domestically, and North Dakota has clearly been a big part of getting there. This is a dramatic difference from the historic low point in 2005, when we met just 69 percent of our nation’s energy demand. To put that fact in perspective, you need to understand that the last time U.S. energy production exceeded its energy demand was in the 1950s, according to the EIA.

“So today, we celebrate and congratulate all who have worked so hard to bring North Dakota to this historic watershed. We need to continue as a state to build on our successes to create a brighter future for all North Dakotans. I will continue to highlight our state’s successes nationally and push for programs like those we initiated in North Dakota a decade ago so that our nation can create jobs, grow our economy and make all of us safer and more secure.”