[BagCamAddict]

the Senate will never pass ANWR. To be honest, once this iraq oil starts to flow onto the market, we won't need it.

If I may add a little insight here? I'm a Geologist. The ANWR region is known to have only enough reserves to supply the country for SIX MONTHS. Then it will be dry.

Wouldn't the money spent on developing the ANWR oil field be better spent on getting alternative energy solutions mainstreamed to the public? Solar, wind, hydrogen cars, etc. all exist, but they are not mass produced, so they are all still relatively expensive. IMHO, we need to spend money on renewable energy resources, not on extracting the last drop of oil from the planet. Oil is a finite resource. It cannot be replaced. Once it's gone, it's gone. What will the grandchildren of our grandchildren do when we've used up all the world's oil?

I welcome thoughtful responses. But hey, if you have a witty response instead, lemme have it! ;-)

[Fledermaus]

There's the "only 6 months supply" canard.

Okay, you are the geologist, you tell me exactly how many barrels of oil that is.

[Miss Marple]

I am a geologist too, and although I haven't worked in quite a few years I keep up on energy issues.

Since there has been no drilling in ANWR, where are you getting your information on the reserve? I am curious, because I see that six month figure quoted all the time, but i can't ever seem to find a source.

[oceanview]

it would supply the country fox six months if all other sources of our oil were ZERO. How likely is that to happen? How are you going to distribute hydrogen? you can't. fuel cells are good, but everyone knows the only practical ones maintain the reformer on board. so you have to get some hydrocarbon fuel into them so they can make hyrdrogen. gasoline and alcohol are still part of the fuel cell solution for cars, natural gas production would be essential for home based fuel cell units.

that said, if the "new iraq" pumps oil like crazy, we don't need anwr.

[umbagi]

I'm a Geologist.

I thought you worked in hazardous materials, earlier...

Okay, while I might not agree with your assessment of ANWR's potential (I'm in O&G, too, as a minority RO and recovering lawyer from west Texas :-), I agree with your point: ANWR in the ground is money in the bank; we should keep getting all the cheap ME oil we can, as long as it holds out and stays cheap. I'd hate to see the Leg try to foreclose future development, though.