Shell Oil Pres. in Tucson to talk 'energy security'

Nigerians protest Shell

UPDATE, 9/21: So much for the 'green' lip service, Shell and the Saudis plan to expand their Port Arthur TX oil refinery to make it the largest in the US.

UPDATE, 8/31: ConocoPhillips, another Houston-based oil giant, will be holding a similar event in Tucson Sept 19.

TUCSON -- Shell Oil Company's Houston-based US President John Hofmeister and other Shell senior staff will be here next week to meet with business and civic leaders in the community, they say.

Shell says it wants to engage in a candid dialogue to create a better understanding of the energy challenges facing our country, as they see them.

Oil sands mining

Shell's Hofmeister has supported more drilling, less regulation over big oil, and oil-shale mining, which would tear up huge areas of the western US and Canada.

The Tucson stop is part of Shell's 50 city PR tour.

Recently, in Birmingham, Hofmeister said federal energy policy preventing oil and natural-gas companies from more drilling offshore - not oil companies boosting prices to cash in on demand - deserves the blame for the run-up that has sent crude oil to near record levels. (Birmingham News, Aug 1)

Shell spun a similar 'more drilling' message in Albany on Aug 6. Though he didn't explicitly mention global warming in Albany, Hofmeister said the debate over greenhouse gas emissions should end. It's time to begin addressing the issue, he said, according to the Albany Times-Union.

Shell's invite only event is Thursday, August 30, 5:30 pm at the Tucson Marriott University Park, 880 East Second Street.