Reminds me of a line from 'There will be blood'
Posted on 06/09/2008 8:08:57 AM PDT by bobconfer
CONFER: Oil made in the USA
The United States twice suffered through oil crises in the 1970s. The 1973 installment was caused by the OAPEC and OPEC cartels cutting-off and manipulating supplies to nations like ours that had supported Israel. This event proved frightening to the American economy, with price controls and rationing being called in to play. The 1979 crisis, a relatively brief affair, was caused by striking oil workers in Iran who made Iranian output plummet and global prices rise, much to the benefit of OPEC.
You would have thought that our federal government would have learned from these major supply hiccups. But, it did not. We have done absolutely nothing to wean ourselves, if even remotely, off of Middle Eastern oil. Case in point, just last week voters in South Dakota approved rezoning for a new oil refinery. There hasn’t been one built in the United States for as long as I’ve been alive!
Because of special interest disdain for domestic development and federal ignorance to its importance, the dependence on foreign oil has been a recurring thorn in our side and it has proven to be extremely painful to us over the past few years. With gasoline well past $4 per gallon (weren’t we paying $1.50 in 2000?) and no end in sight, our economy is quite literally in the tank.
Not only has this dependence hurt every American consumer’s pocketbook at the pump and in the store, but, worse yet, thousands of American men and women have experienced physical and emotional pain (and even death) serving our nation in an effort to bring about peace to the Middle East, the obvious goal of which is to ensure the consistent availability of energy.
We definitely need to end this current oil crisis — which truthfully is really an extension of those of the 1970s — and invest in America’s future by investing in America’s oil. It would be ignorant to believe that would could be fully independent, but we could definitely lessen our reliance. Current statistics show that we import about 60 percent of our oil. Cleaving just 15 percentage points off that would go a long way towards cutting costs and dampening our global interventionism. It’s not like we’re at a loss for oil here. We have plenty of it.
While some in Congress choose not to champion the concept for fear of reprisal from the green people, a few, such as US Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico, have chosen a path quite beneficial to America’s welfare and are asking that we use the resources we have. Domenici has introduced Bill S.2958 — “The American Energy Production Act” — that will initiate the use of American energy. The act is the first step and a big one at that.
For starters, it would promote oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It would allow private entities to lease the sites and tap into what is believed to be 14 billion barrels of oil. Revenues brought in from the leases would be shared amongst the states, the Federal treasury and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This drilling would be done with respect for the environment. Just look at Dubai’s model for success: They can tap offshore oils, they do it very cleanly, and their economy is booming because of it.
The act would promote interior development, too. Vast untapped oil shale reserves exist under Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, something to the tune of 2 trillion barrels of crude. The bill would accelerate the leasing process and eliminate the current moratorium on oil shale which is only prolonging our economic agony. It would also open up ANWR for controlled development. Under that terrain sits 10 billion barrels ready for the taking. According to Domenici, had Bill Clinton not vetoed ANWR in 1995 we would now be taking oil from there, saving Americans $40 billion annually.
The bill would also promote green and clean energy. It would facilitate the creation of powerful vehicular batteries through loans and grants. It would invest $2 billion in clean coal technologies for electricity. And, it would provide incentives for development of cellulosic ethanol and biodiesels.
There’s a lot more to this bill and, overall, it has sound science and economics. Contact your Senators and let them know it needs to be passed so that we can cut some of our many foreign ties. Only then will we rise from our weakened state and see nothing but prosperity on the horizon.
Bob Confer is a Gasport resident and vice president of Confer Plastics Inc. in North Tonawanda. E-mail him at bobconfer@juno.com.
One of the reasons Middle East Peace is a big issue is that we have made them wealthy off of our dependence on their oil - wealthy enough that they can pursue their tribal wars on a global scale. Drill here, drill now, dry up their funds.
A better model are the North Sea operations. The North Sea is a notoriously "tempestuous" body of water, with strong storms, and high waves. If offshore drilling can be done safely under those conditions (and it can and is being done safely), then it can be done anywhere---even offshore of Florida and California.
Buy gas made from USA oil only. Don’t send the money to Chavez or the Arabs who hate us.
What the report does not mention is that the Chinese plan to drill for oil in our own backyard (Gulf of Mexico near Cuba) without impunity. Apparently, US environmentalists rather give our natural resources away free than utilize them for our country’s benefit. Doesn’t this smell of treason?
The alternatives will not be cheaper. Forget that. Coal to liquid plants in large numbers should already be in operation, but they are not, so they will have to be built now.
Unless you live in Alaska, how do you do that?
Nearly all other areas are on a distribution system that includes foreign oil to the refineries or from the refineries to truck loading stations that serve the local retailer.
So what are the facts? Based upon data from the U.S.Energy Information Administration, Keating says the U.S. produces 5.1 million barrels (34%) of crude oil per day while importing 10.1 barrels (66%) per day. The top five countries we import from on a daily basis are:
* Canada - 1.8 million barrels
* Mexico - 1.6 million barrels
* Saudi Arabia - 1.4 million barrels
* Venezuela - 1.1 million barrels
* Nigeria - 1.0 million barrels
In total, he says 79% of all imported crude oil came from non-Middle East OPEC countries in 2006.
I heard that China will be doing "side drilling", which enables them to drill just outside our territorial waters, but drill into our OCS oil reserves. Yet, you get some idiot like Charlie Rangle saying: "Drilling for more oil won't solve our energy problems." Really? So sitting there in Washington with your thumb up your a.. and doing nothing will solve it? Whose pocket are you in, Charlie?
Support this bill and drill NOW!!!
Why the qualifier? Is there a belief the "other" OPEC nations operate separately from the rest of OPEC?
Do you believe Chavez of Venezuela will operate in our interest over OPEC?
The data shown is out of date. Saudi Arabia now provides more crude oil to the US than Mexico.
U.S. Crude Oil Imports by Country of Origin
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbblpd_m.htm
While we may only get 21% of our oil from the Middle East, that’s enough, along with what they sell to the rest of the world, to bankroll their weapons and the technology to deliver them. The ME and Hugo Chavez should be the first ones we cut off when we supplant our foreign oil supplies with domestic.
“Charlie Rangle saying: “Drilling for more oil won’t solve our energy problems.”
That’s the problem with many of today’s congressmen — they are unable to come up with any legislation beneficial to our country, so they just pretend to become scientific experts, instead. Dispicable bunch.
I like your North Sea analysis. I agree. There methods of oil extraction are definitely worth a column by itself in the future.
Our “government” learns nothing.
Our “rulers” are the best that special-interest money can buy.
You mention Nigeria. On any given day their system could collapse due to evil, warring leadership there, terrorists, and pirates. As a matter of fact, next week, my company is shipping two container loads of a small-craft barriers to Nigeria stop the “pirates” from approaching boats, docks, etc. It is definitely one nation we should not rely on.
You're preachin' to the choir!
WSJ had a report this morning on pirates over in Somalia. This pirate activity is growing and could have an impact on shipping and therefore world economy. Send in the Marines, sure, but that is not cheap. It’s all going to continue to get more expensive.
Reminds me of a line from 'There will be blood'
Ever hear of the word "fungible"?????
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