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Posted on 02/27/2009 6:41:01 AM PST by Delacon
Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is once again taking steps towards increasing our energy dependence. Just a few weeks after the Obama Administration unnecessarily slowed the process of leasing offshore areas to energy companies for drilling; Secretary Salazar is now rescinding leasing plans for oil-shale development on federal land in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
The amount of oil available through oil shale is staggering. Some estimates have 1.2 trillion to 1.8 trillion barrels of oil available in the Green River Formation, an area which expands through most of Colorado and parts of Utah and Wyoming. According to the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management, a conservative estimate of 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from oil shale in the Green River Formation is three times greater than the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, if full-scale production begins within five years, the U.S. could completely end its dependence on OPEC by 2020.
The oil shale industry experienced several hiccups in the 1970s and the industry has a ways to go before the resource becomes commercially viable, but its potential is enormous. The investment in technology and R&D is making the process cheaper, cleaner and safer for the environment. In effect, methods of harvesting oil shale force excess carbon back into the ground. Furthermore, nuclear energy is a clean source of power that can heat the shale to safely extract it from the ground.
This is actually the third time that Salazar has delayed access to energy in the United States. Previously, he cancelled onshore leases in Utah. This delay is not surprising but is particularly damaging to America’s ability to access its domestic energy sources. In July 2008, then Senator Salazar stated he would not support drilling offshore if gas prices were to reach $10 per gallon. Environmental activists and other critics of offshore drilling argue that drilling will not immediately bring down gas prices because the process takes too long, but they then deliberately cause or prolong needless delays.
The reality is access to our domestic energy supply is still needed and can help keep gas prices low in the future. Heritage Senior Policy Analyst Ben Lieberman points out that this is no time for complacency. The only reason for the sharp drop in oil and pump prices are a decline in demand due to the recession. Unless America begins to take action to increase supplies, prices will go right back up as soon as the economy turns around and demand picks up. Expanded offshore drilling would also create jobs, and unlike the taxpayer-funded jobs in the proposed stimulus package, the jobs created by a reinvigorated domestic energy industry would be well-paying, long-term, and funded entirely by the private sector.
In a poll conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute, 61 percent of Americans support access to oil and natural gas resources in federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf and the Gulf of Mexico. Only 26 percent opposed. It should be noted that Harris conducted these interviews from February 13 to February 16, 2009, when gas prices were much lower than the $4-per-gallon prices we faced over the summer.
When gas prices were at $4 per gallon, over 1.4 million Americans demanded change by signing American Solution’s Drill Here Drill Now petition. Congress and President Bush responded by lifting the bans on offshore drilling. The Department of Interior is now seeking comment on its proposal to opens up new areas for energy exploration. People are voicing their support for offshore drilling by going to FreeOurEnergy.com and submitting a comment. You can too. Now is not the time to turn back.
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The campaign issues being given to the Republicans by these idiots is breathtaking, as the great unwashed figure out what they voted for they will not amused, 2010 election cycle is going to be very interesting.
@$$hole!!!! Between there and what's under North Dakota, we are FLOATING ON AN OCEAN OF OIL! There are up to 9 Saudi Arabias worth combined, more oil than has been burned since its discovery in 1859.
How bloody stooopid are these people? Just get out of the way of industry - set some reasonable enviro standards first, but get out of the way. THEN we'll see prosperity, and you idiots libs out there will have more to spend on your crappy social programs.
You are making the assumption that the majority of citizens in this country have a frikkin brain. 40% don’t pay taxes and think the government is their mommy. they wan’t to be regulated but not in the bedroom. we are in a truly “Atlas Shrugged” situation and i’ve about had it with this country. Every day the percentage of idiots grows larger and we are not very far from the minority taking care of the majority. Why work? Why be a contributing member of society and carry these idiots along? I personally think they should starve to death.
>>>The campaign issues being given to the Republicans by these idiots is breathtaking...<<<
The STUPID PARTY will not take advantage of them.
Agreed, but paying 4 bucks a gallon makes even the most clueless vote pay attention.
4$ gas does have a way of focusing the mind. Actually, i think its what set off the domino effect that led us to this economic situation. It wasn’t the root cause, but it got the ball rolling. People started missing their mortgage payments to pay their gas bill so they could get to work to pay for the car they couldn’t afford.
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