Bill Overview
Title: Fueling American Prosperity Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of the Interior to carry out sales of onshore and offshore oil and gas leases. If the sales are not carried out, the bill limits Interior from hiring, transferring, or reassigning duties among officers and employees. In addition, the bill (1) requires Interior to finalize its next offshore oil and gas leasing program by June 30, 2022; and (2) sets deadlines by which certain environmental assessments and environmental impact statements must be completed if the national average price of gasoline exceeds a specified threshold.
Sponsors: Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals reliant or concerned with global oil and gas markets
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The bill impacts the oil and gas industry, specifically companies involved in onshore and offshore drilling as it mandates lease sales.
- The bill potentially affects environmental sustainability due to increased drilling activity, impacting people concerned with environmental conservation.
- There is a salient effect on consumers of oil and gas, who gain indirectly through potentially increased supply, affecting prices of gasoline and related utilities.
- The legislation impacts the employees within the Department of the Interior, as non-compliance with leasing mandates can lead to restrictions on hiring and assignment changes.
- Environmental activists and communities advocating for environmental protection are also impacted due to the bill's focus on expedited leasing.
Reasoning
- The distribution and budget constraints suggest reaching a broad yet focused subset of the population closely tied to oil and gas production and consumption.
- The impact on direct employees of the Department of the Interior, while significant, might affect a smaller subset, hence lower budget allocation.
- The policy could introduce economic fluctuations in oil-dependent areas, leading us to simulate both affected and unaffected populations.
Simulated Interviews
Oil Rig Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could increase job security in the sector.
- Concerned about long-term environmental impact.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Environmental Scientist (Miami, FL)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Very concerned about increased drilling hurting marine life.
- Believes economic benefits do not justify environmental costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 8 |
Gas Station Owner (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If supply increases, costs might lower, boosting sales.
- Worries about regulatory compliance for gas quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Department of the Interior Employee (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stressful knowing job might be impacted by policy deadlines.
- Concerned about rushing environmental assessments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
University Professor in Energy Economics (Pittsburgh, PA)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy is good for stimulating economic research topics.
- Mixed feelings about balance between economic and environmental effects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 9 |
Independent Contractor in Infrastructure (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy could lead to more contracts, increasing income.
- Worries about community's environmental wellbeing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 1 |
Environmental Activist (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step backward for environmental sustainability.
- Expect increased activism efforts to combat the bill.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 9 |
Logistics Manager for a Fuel Distribution Company (Omaha, NE)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A stable supply due to the policy could help manage logistics better.
- Potential for long-term issues if environmental damage occurs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Climate Scientist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy directly opposes efforts to mitigate climate change.
- Expects to undertake more research on policy impact in affected areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 9 |
CEO of Mid-size Oil Corporation (Dallas, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy facilitates growth opportunities in the oil sector.
- Potential for backlash from environmental groups poses risks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 3: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 5: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 10: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $35000000)
Key Considerations
- The bill may face opposition from environmental groups due to expedited leasing processes.
- Economic benefits depend significantly on global oil prices and domestic demand.
- Potential environmental and regulatory compliance issues could affect project timelines and costs.
- Job creation in the energy sector could mitigate some negative employment impacts from reduced environmental oversight.