Are there ways that we can we drill for oil in Alaska without harming the eco-system up there?

Question

I hope we can, because drilling for oil up there might just be a good idea?

Answer 1

We sure can drill for oil in Alaska without harming the eco-system. This is just one of a few policies that would help our energy crisis. The following points are policies that our current congress practices...

• Failing to allow drilling in ANWR. We have an estimated capacity of a million barrels of oil a day from this source alone — enough for 27 million gallons of gas and diesel. But Congress won't touch it, fearful of the clout of the environmental lobby. As a result, you pay at the pump so your representative can raise campaign cash.

• Refusing to build new refineries. The U.S. hasn't built one since 1976, yet sanctions at least 15 unique "boutique" fuel blends around the nation. So even the slightest problem at a refinery causes enormous supply problems and price spikes. Congress has done nothing about this.

• Turning its back on nuclear power. It's safe and, with advances in nuclear reprocessing technology, waste problems have been minimized. Still, we have just 104 nuclear plants — the same as a decade ago — producing just 19% of our total energy. (Many European nations produce 40% or more of their power with nuclear.) Granted, nuclear power plants are expensive — about $3 billion each. But they produce energy at $1.72/kilowatt-hour vs. $2.37 for coal and $6.35 for natural gas.

• Raising taxes on energy producers. This is where a basic understanding of economics would help: Higher taxes and needless regulation lead to less production of a commodity. So by proposing "windfall" and other taxes on energy companies plus tough new rules, Congress makes our energy situation worse.

Answer 2

Eco-freaks don't trust the oil companies or the government..

So, since the world does not believe that America isn't doing enough for the environment, the American government will never allow drilling in Anwar Alaska, or the Pacific off California, or off the coast of Florida... or other regions of the Gulf of Mexico....

However there is a good side effect of this perverse policy.  As long as we remain on a petroleum addiction, then we will always be keeping the middle east and Russia wealthy with oil dollars.  The radical elements of Islam will always be able to count on the wealth of its brothers for support.  And America will continue to have a negative trade balance.

So, we need to be energy independent and we have to do it without petroleum.  We need hybrid automobiles that use all electric for the first 40 miles - then perform on a gasoline - electric combination.  We also need micro-refiners in people's back yards which will produce ethanol and oilgae (diesel made from algae).   This will be future that will produce prosperity as well as energy independence.

Answer 3

sure

but the liberal tree huggers won't accept it

Answer 4

We have been drilling and pumping oil up here in Alaska since 1977. The wildlife do not have any problems with the pipeline. We do not have enough oil to satisfy the needs and wants of the USA. The price of gas today in Palmer, AK was $3.70.

Answer 5

why start now?

if oil is $100 a barrel today, it'll be $1000 a barrel in 10 years.

it won't rot.

besides, all of the alaskan oil goes to asia.

none of it goes to the US.

Answer 6

The rising prices of oil and gas is caused by the same phenom that is causing higher food prices, higher gold prices, and higher everything prices in America: The currency is quickly becoming less valuable and so therefore it takes more federal reserve notes to buy the same goods and services fewer bought last year.

Even if a billion trillion gallons of oil are extracted from ANWAR,  the price will continue to rise.

Let me ask you a question: If you discovered a super rich vein of gold in your back yard, would you flood the market and thereby drive down the price of gold? Or would you sell it slowly and reap the maximum rewards for your digging efforts? Whoever drills the oil from Alaska will also expect a reward for their efforts and will take that in the form of profits. They will NOT flood the market thereby driving down the prices.

So why do you want us to drill there?

Answer 7

18 months is what the Anwar oil reserves would provide for us. We need to reduce consumption to rational levels before we carve up some of the last remaining wilderness on the planet.