Posted on 05/28/2008 7:09:50 PM PDT by I got the rope
DALLAS -- Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest oil-and-gas company, came out swinging Wednesday against the environmental movement, arguing the science of climate change is far from settled and that his company views it as its "corporate social responsibility" to continue to supply the world with fossil fuels.
Speaking to reporters after the annual meeting of shareholders, at which much-publicized proposals by the Rockefeller family calling for new investment in renewable energy received little support, Mr. Tillerson also said he expects little delay in the $8-billion Kearl oilsands project in Alberta, after a court challenge by environmental organizations this month resulted in the withdrawal of a key federal permit, halting important work.
"I am optimistic that the permit will be restored and we'll be able to get back on track with very little loss to the schedule," he said. "My understanding is that the project ... has been given a very high priority by the government of Canada and is moving along at a fairly rapid pace." Exxon Mobil owns Kearl with its Canadian affiliate, Imperial Oil Ltd.
Avoiding the political correctness that many oil executives are now showing on global warming, Mr. Tillerson called for a continuation of the debate, rather than acceptance that it is occurring, with the potential consequence that governments will implement policies that put world economies at risk.
"My view is that this is so extraordinarily important to people the world over, that to not have a debate on it is irresponsible," he said. "To suggest that we know everything we need to know about these issues is irresponsible.
"And I will take all the criticism that comes with it. Anybody that tells you that they got this figured out is not being truthful. There are too many complexities around climate science for anybody to fully understand all of the causes and effects and consequences of what you may chose to do to attempt to affect that. We have to let scientists to continue their investigative work, unencumbered by political influences. This is too important to be cute with it."
Mr. Tillerson said Exxon Mobil, despite its reputation as a staunch climate change denier, is in fact close to the issue as the only oil company that is a member of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Exxon Mobil came under repeated attack during the rowdy meeting for not showing leadership to combat global warming, with some arguing it is putting shareholders' capital at risk by not moving into greener energy.
Among the many critics who stood up in the city's Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Centre, where the meeting was held, was Neva Rockefeller Goodwin, the great-granddaughtger of John D. Rockefeller, who founded Exxon's predecessor 125 years ago.
But her proposal to have Exxon Mobil prepare a report on the impact of climate change on emerging countries and to embrace greener energy was backed by only 10.4% of shareholders.
Another proposal, also supported by the family, to split the role of chairman and CEO in the hope it will encourage a more favourable view of energy alternatives was supported by 39.5%.
Mr. Tillerson said Exxon Mobil, with 14,000 engineers and scientists on the payroll, is already investing billions to manage the environmental impact of its operations, become more energy-efficient and support research to help consumers use less energy.
Looking out 25 to 30 years, "everyone agrees that notwithstanding the growth in all other options for supplying energy, renewables, nuclear, biomass alternatives, you are still going to require substantial fossil fuels to meet energy needs, and two-thirds is going to come from oil and natural gas," he said.
Mr. Tillerson said he is encouraged by efforts to move forward the $16.2-billion Mackenzie Gas Project in Canada's Arctic. Those involved are still investigating ways it can be structured to better manage upfront risk, he said.
ABOUT FREAKIN TIME!!!!!!!!!
Finally a voice of reason.
Good stuff. More of this please.
Good Lord! It’s about dang time that someone did! Geesh! How far do they have to push us before we start pushing back???
yeah, they've been kissing green butt for a long time.
Umm, that's because it's CEO's job.
I’m going to buy some more XOM.
This is not true. Exxon is the world's largest "publicly traded" oil-and-gas company. Quite a difference I'd say.
Commie reporter had to get the agitprop in there I see.
Hallelujah! It’s about damn time.
Good stuff
I think I read somewhere that they produce 25% of the world’s gasoline.
Go see Newt’s petition to get drilling on the map prior to next week’s Warner/Lieberman disaster.
www.AMERICANSOLUTIONS.com
Hopefully, we’ll have another anti amnesty reaction.
Spread the word.
Damn! I wish I could find the time to learn to post!.
Sorry if this doesn’t come out as a link.
Ohhhhh...so it's the shareholders they're worried about, eh? Riiiiiiiight.
Exxon is a gutless corporate entity that would never buck the establishment. For their CEO to talk like this means the Gore-bots are on the run!
bump
WWW.AMERICANSOLUTIONS.COM
Hallelujah! It’s about time a CEO had the ‘nads to stand up to envirokooks. Forty years of appeasing radical leftist enviros has only made them more rabid and insatiable. By constantly yielding to them, what started off as responsible environmental stewardship — controlling oxides of sulfur and nitrogen and particulate emissions — has morphed into control of our very lives and making energy affordable only by the very wealthy.
Ping.
THANK YOU!!!
SIGN THE PETITION ALL!!
I never do this kind of stuff but we are screwed if we don’t take charge.
Gotcha.
How are things at C.H.A.O.S., and how's my favorite lady-detective?
About damn time!
I hope this brave man’s income taxes are in order. I can feverish footsteps heading for his FBI file.
I favor development of alternative and renewable energy supplies.
Having said that, THIS crowd has been behind the ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT scam for decades, a KEY component of which is to bring the living standard DOWN while sucking up as much American wealth to redistribute to the third world as they can get away with to bring them UP so we can all be blended into their NEW WORLD ORDER with guess who in charge?
And I believe it was Lenin who said that when they went to hang the last capitalist, they will compete to sell them the rope.
Good to hear at least ONE capitalist call it Bravo Sierra.
I will go out of my way to buy Exxon gas to reward this mans courage. I encourage everyone else to do the same.
bump
The Rockefeller Foundation, The Ford Foundation, The Tides Foundation.
They are all Socialists trying to destroy this Country!
Have been doing so for 100 years.
Throw their asses to the Curb and demand DRILLING!
You pay for the Federal Land and it’s upkeep.
Who the F are these dickwads telling the United States of America that we Cannot drill our own oil?
I call for all Rockefeller descendants who believe Exxon is destroying the planet, such as Miss Neva, to immediately sell all their shares. It is time for them to stop living in the lap of luxury from profits generated by a company whose work they do not support.
And yes... I know that Hell will freeze over before these Rockefeller family hypocrites do such a thing.
The big oil companies better start speaking out or they are going to find the liberals will nationalize the oil companies or regulate them out of business. Some of the oil companies have bet that they can play nice with the left and play along with the global warming pharse, and they have also bet they can gain from the green subsidies that congress will dish out. That is a losing bet.
As far as I'm concerned, it is Exxon's duty to it's stockholders to find and drill all of the oil it possibly can. It is also incumbent upon them to look towards the future and protect equity. But nothing at all says they have to continue in the energy industry. Phillip Morris (MO) has diversified into dozens of industries and are still paying great dividends. Latest government report released just a few days ago indicate the following: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/fuel.html
As one can plainly see, renewable energy 17 years from now is predicted to be a whopping 9% of our use. Liquids (i.e. oil) is still the winner. Since it will take most of the 17 years to drill a whole in ANWR, you'd think someone would notice this report in Washington and get excited.
I agree with the CEO just like what the Shell President I think it was said it is the wacko enviromentalists who are to blame and people better wake up otherwise we will get the Maxine Waters plan to socialize the oil companies.
NAH.
That would take an I.Q..
Sorry, D.C. is fresh out of humans with I.Q.’s.
However, Liberal Agendas are going for an LB. of Flesh.
“A oil CEO doing the job congressional Republicans wont do.”
Following the lead of the Shell Oil CEO last week. If these guys begin to speak out with facts regularly, we might be able to make some progress; at least until the media stop providing coverage.
Neva Rockefeller Goodwin - Trust Fund Twit
If you like $4/gal, Thank Congress!
Pray for W and Our Troops
heh heh
Except for the one in my tagline!!!
Rock on, Rex - rock on!
AMEN!
Do you think she ever goes by Neva Goodwin???????
I wonder how much biodiesel you could squeeze out of a fat Liberal?
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