Washington, D.C. – The New York Times today published a story on Saudi Arabia’s declining oil fields. The story noted that U.S. energy forecasts call for Saudi Arabia to nearly double its output in the next decade and beyond. However, U.S. and Saudi sources told the newspaper that Saudi Arabia’s production capacity will stall near current levels, creating a potentially significant gap in global energy supplies. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Pete V. Domenici issued the following statement in response to rising concerns over Saudi Arabia oil production: “President Bush had the vision to see past oil imports, OPEC quotas and carbon emissions to a future of hydrogen-powered cars, clean air and energy self-reliance for this great country. “Last year, President Bush asked Congress for $1.8 billion for hydrogen research. Senate Republicans put authorization for $2.1 billion – nearly $400 million more than requested – in our energy bill. S. 2095, the energy bill pending in the Senate, puts that investment, along with American ingenuity and innovation, to work to make a hydrogen future an American reality. “If we pass S. 2095, we can put affordable, reliable hydrogen-powered cars on the road by the time the Saudi oil fields are tapped out, whenever that may be. Let’s stop looking to foreign countries to solve our energy problems while we play politics with solutions here at home. I urge the swift passage of S. 2095.” The U.S. Energy Information Agency says Saudi Arabia needs to produce 13.6 million barrels a day by 2010 and 19.5 million barrels a day by 2020 to meet world oil demands. However, an internal Saudi Aramco plan estimates production in 2011 at 10.15 million barrels a day, the New York Times reported. ###