U.S. oil executive says green policies will strangle the U.S. economy

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According to a recent report in the British Financial Times, James Hackett, chairman and CEO of Anadarko Petroleum – one of the largest independent oil and gas companies in the United States – warned that U.S. energy and environmental policies could push the country into a downward spiral, turning it into \"the cleanest third-world country in the world.\" Reported by People’s Daily on April 14. 　　James Hackett said in an interview, “The absurdly obsessive focus on carbon dioxide is intellectually repulsive to me.” ” 　　Huckett’s remarks echo the private views of many oil industry executives, only these executives are reluctant to be too direct and reveal the growing rift between the industry and Washington. His views contrast with those of European oil industry executives, who use cautious language in order to stay aligned with political and environmental norms. 　　Unlike many executives in European companies, Hackett is opposed to the \"cap and trade\" system for carbon emissions, as included in a bill recently proposed by the Republican Party in the House of Representatives. He said it is an indirect tax imposed on individuals, and it will be just as susceptible to manipulation as the European model.