CHAPTER 609
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 2
AN ACT MEMORIALIZING THE DELAWARE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT HOUSE RESOLUTION 2920 SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE P. S. DUPONT, IV, DEALING WITH THE COORDINATION OF AGENCIES, DEPARTMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONCERNED WITH THE ENERGY PROBLEM.
WHEREAS, the joint committees of Public Safety and Community Affairs and Economic Development have studied the question of whether an immediate fuel crisis exists in Delaware; and
WHEREAS, hearings were held on January 18th and 24th in Dover and a meeting conducted with Getty Oil Company representatives on February 5th; and
WHEREAS, the committees have determined that there is no immediate fuel crisis and that the health and public safety of the citizens of Delaware will not be adversely affected; and
WHEREAS, it was pointed out that the reason there is not an immediate fuel crisis is due in part to the unusually mild winter on the east coast and the easing of the grain drying situation in the midwest; and
WHEREAS, it was concluded that Delaware and the United States do have a potential future energy crisis and steps must be taken now to cope with this possibility; and
WHEREAS, over the past ten years energy needs have been growing at an accelerated rate and demands for modern conveniences and the impact of environmental controls have combined to increase energy consumption; and
WHEREAS, many diverse opinions were expressed as to the cause of the potential energy crisis; and
WHEREAS, these explanations included the facts that government ceilings have been placed on the price of natural gas, diminishing the number of exploration wells in the country; the cost of drilling has increased and the incentive for exploration has disappeared; and that oil companies have run their plants to meet increasing gasoline needs; and
WHEREAS, it was revealed that it is estimated that the United States has enough on-shore oil for the next ten years, natural gas for eleven years, shale oil for 35 years to 120 years and coal for the next 500 years.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Delaware Congressional Delegation support Representative P. S. DuPont, IV's House Resolution 2920 which coordinates efforts at the Federal level, bringing together all agencies, departments and environmental factors into one strong unit, creating, in the Executive Office of the President, a Council on Energy.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the forty-nine state legislatures for their urgent consideration and support in an attempt to focus national attention on this potential fuel crisis.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to Senator William V. Roth, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Rep. Pierre S. DuPont, IV, and that this resolution be incorporated into the Congressional Record.
Approved April 18, 1973.