In a recent House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) found herself promptly corrected after making a misleading statement about greenhouse gas emissions.
The Congresswoman claimed that nearly a quarter of U.S. carbon pollution originates from oil and gas drilling on federal lands. However, Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, was quick to set the record straight.
Ocasio-Cortez's assertion was met with immediate scrutiny from Sgamma, who opened her testimony by calling out the New York Democrat for her "complete falsehood."
Armed with data, Sgamma clarified that production on federal lands and waters accounts for a mere 0.6% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. This correction is not just a minor detail; it's a pivotal revelation that challenges the narrative often pushed by Democrats to justify ending drilling on federal lands.
"That's based on a misreading of a USGS study of greenhouse gas emissions," Sgamma said. "Even the Interior Department stopped using that number after I simply pointed out the numbers from the USGS report."
While it's true that emissions from fossil fuels produced on federal lands represent, on average, 23.7% of national emissions, this figure does not come from drilling activities alone.
Sgamma explained that the "vast majority" of these emissions come from the end-use combustion of fossil fuels, not from extraction. This distinction is crucial for a balanced understanding of the issue and should serve as a wake-up call for those who rely on misleading statistics to push their agenda.
The correction of Ocasio-Cortez's misleading statement serves as a triumph for those who value factual accuracy in political discourse. It also highlights the importance of scrutinizing claims made by public figures, especially when those claims have the potential to influence policy decisions. As patriotic conservatives, we must continue to hold our leaders accountable for their words, ensuring that the truth prevails.