No Arctic drilling

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 4/10/02 | Editorial staff

[Homer_J_Simpson]

IT'S A HARMFUL illusion to think that tapping an Alaskan wildlife refuge will help this country's energy woes. The oil remains far away, costly to extract and limited in quantity. Drilling will be destructive to a unique and fragile region.

[saminfl]

Ya, this sucks too, cause there is estimated to be no more than a 6month supply of oil

I believe the six months estimate is a myth supplied by environmentalist whackos. Realistic estimates are much longer than that.

[Cyber Liberty]

I think KY (Har! There's a fortuitous conincidence!) IS an enviro-whacko.

[rohry]

We shoud develop new technologies. I also believe these gas driven power generators are extremely detrimental, and we should build more nuclear plants, which are much cleaner, and cost effective.

I'm with you on nuclear power but there is no other energy-creating technology that is cost-effective that can be "developed" right now. Also, the "dirtyness" of oil and even clean coal is over-hyped by "environmentalists" who earn their money as hustlers for doom and gloom.

[TomB]

Hers's some more oil:

Canada could have an answer to U.S. oil woes

The U.S. government itself mentioned one possible solution in Vice-President Dick Cheney's recent energy report: Alberta's oil sands, a vast ocean of tar-like goo in the northern part of the province. By most estimates, there is more oil in the so-called "tar sands" than there is in all of Saudi Arabia, or about 300 billion barrels that is recoverable using existing technology. That's enough to supply the United States for more than 40 years ? plus there's another 1.5 trillion to two trillion barrels on top of that, which would be harder to extract. That's 10 times what Saudi Arabia has.

[knak]

six month oil supply? You've been listening to Al Gore!

[#3Fan]

The underground supply may only be enough to supply this country with six months of current needs. A lattice of roads, pipelines and drilling pads may harm the habitats of migratory birds, musk ox and polar bear.

Roads?! No, not roads! How can animals possibly survive around roads!? [sarcasm off] (Pay no attention to the explosion of the deer population where there are roads, buildings, concrete, etc. everywhere.)

[SGCOS]

The real problem the left has with drilling and the environment is that they can't figure how how all those oil tankers are gonna get to where the drills are.

[backhoe]

We not only need to drill ANWR, we need to drill in the Gulf of Mexico ( one of the world's largest oil reserves ), off both coasts, in the 48 continental states, and encourage our neighbors north and south to do the same.

We need to encourage the development of modern, safe & efficient nuclear power, and encourage the use of clean coal technology- we have coal in abundance.

Most of all, we need to counter the lies and spin of the Greens, which is abetted by a compliant, obsequeous media.

[zoyd]

I've never seen a squirrel dig. Did those squirrels glow at night?

Well, gophers. Damned things look similar. My goof.

;)

[A Navy Vet]

While I agree with building more nuclear plants, here's a reality check for you: The world currently runs on oil. Our national security and standard of living are directly tied to the free flow of oil in the world. That's why we go to war over it.

If we go to war with Iraq, I'd personally like to see us commandeer their oil fields as spoils of war. And if the other barbaric little despots in the region want to screw with us, let's take theirs, also.

[okie01]

"We should look into developing new forms of fuel..."

Like nuclear power plants, right?

[SauronOfMordor]

Years ago, some eco-fascists said the Trans-Alaska Pipeline would harm the carribu. Well, it turns out the frigging deer benefited from the pipeline: they take shelter from cold wind, and keep warm (the pipe has to be heated so the oil will flow). Net result: fewer die from cold

[rohry]

You had the same points as me...except that you said it much better than me!

[backhoe]

Thanks for that info & link- I recalled the story, but don't have the link around here.

Coal is another source routinely slandered by the press- they always show belching, billowing stacks pouring out clouds a ink-black smoke- when nothing could be further from the truth.

In the mid-1960's, I visited Plant McManus here- the power plant.
They burned pulverized coal at the time, and all you could see leaving the stack was clear heat waves.

No smoke- none!
The technology has lept light-years ahead since then, too.

[KnowYourEnemy]

Ya, really looks like a mosquito infested swamp

[backhoe]

If we go to war with Iraq, I'd personally like to see us commandeer their oil fields as spoils of war. And if the other barbaric little despots in the region want to screw with us, let's take theirs, also...

Neighbor, I happen to agree with you- 911 aside, I'm utterly sick of the threats, yapping, lies, and braggadocio from that den of thieves.

We should have done it when they hit us with the embargo in 1973, and might have if Nixon hadn't been crippled with Watergate.
It would have prevented a lot of problems we now face.

[Archaeus]

Here's an alternative. Instead of waiting for Congress to pull it's un-american head out of it's collective un-american arse, have the President of the US circumvent the fools. ANWR is a NATIONAL holding. The President is top dog in the national government. All those b'crats have to follow his lawful orders. Just sign an Executive Order directing the government to allow bidding and drilling. Stroke of the pen...

[A Navy Vet]

This is your proof? A narrow perfectly composed photo for aesthetic purposes? I think you're going to regret posting that.

[Centurion2000]

10 years ago it was the same argument, "we won't pop a drop for 10 years."

How many jobs would drilling in ANWR provide?

A LOT

[SGCOS]

It does. You just need to adjust the pixel resolution on your Commodore 64.