The concern about the spike in gasoline prices is making its way to Congress.
Democrats in the House of Representatives are preparing legislation that might relax the ban on drilling for oil off our coasts.
The legislation will ask utility companies to also seek power from renewable sources, and provide tax incentives for alternative energy like wind power.
"The tax credits that are currently given to the oil companies, approximately 15 billion dollars, can be utilized for renewable energy objectives." said Roger Shew, professor of environmental studies at UNCW.
The prospect of relaxing the restrictions is drawing strong opposition from those concerned about the environment. They argue that offshore drilling will not help reduce oil prices.
Google Tarballs and Texas
Do a Google search for "tarballs Texas" and see how many hits you get. I lived in Texas, went to the beaches and had to scrape tar off my feet with the kerosene and rags the hotels left by the door.
Our beaches could be like that too.
We should be investing in alternatives to oil; not drilling more to maintain our old, self-defeating habits and ruining our beaches too.
If you grew up in the Fifties and Sixties...
...you would know that the beaches from Boston to Miami had tarballs coming in on every tide because of oil seeping from ships sunk off the coast during WW II.
Somehow, we all survived.
Sure you "survived", but why
Sure you "survived", but why spoil the coast with that if you don't HAVE to? We need to concentrate on alternatives instead of resorting to ruining our coast.
Tell us about the alternatives.....
Tell us about what's ready to come on line as a replacement for gasoline and diesel within the next ten years....
...and don't forget about the distribution infrastructure and cost.
Then expalin why we can't drill for oil while we're developing alternatives that might pan out in time for my grandchildren.
(BTW, if a tar spot on your heel ruins your day at the beach, you're one prissy individual.)
NC has very few things that
NC has very few things that make it a desirable place to live. The school system sucks, it’s the boonies no matter what part you move to, and the natives NCers have allot of pass issues they need to work out. The only thing NC has going for itself is its beaches. Only a fool would ruin them. I know tar heels is a big deal down hear but let’s keep it metaphoric.
Offshore drilling
If Americans would do their research & learn that offshore drilling will not reduce the price of oil. I am a realist, I learn the facts & the facts state that even if oil companies start drilling today it will be at least 10 years before the fuel makes it to a useable product & gas will most likely be double the price by then. Let's use our money & resources to produce better energy instead of wasting it on something that's becoming obsolete, a dinosaur, plus it's definitely not the best for our environment. The facts also state that producing cleaner energy (no such thing as clean coal) will definitely create new higher paying jobs plus it will be cleaner for our environment. It has been proven just need to make it available to the masses.
You must be thinking
You must be thinking that Nancy Pelosi will be heading up the drilling operations. Actually it would be holding them up.
Wake up call!
If you think that you're going to find a BTU equivalent replacement for gasoline in ten years, you're dreaming.
Ethanol is doomed because it's still energy negative and the liberal saps can't grasp that it's more important that we drive than Sri Lankans eat. (Of course, the Sri Lankans likely disagree, but we're the ones growing the corn.)
Fuel cell use in mobile platforms is going nowhere fast, and the hydrogen distribution system in this country isn't exactly booming.
Biodiesel has great promise, but is having more than its fair share of birthing pains. It, too, is crippled by the "What will they eat" distraction. If a soybean can go to food use or biodiesel, it should go to....
...the higher bidder.
We need to be exploring alternatives to gasoline AND drilling at the same time. Like I said earlier, I fully intend to be here, driving and buying gasoline, in ten years, and increased supply will lower prices. Take the time to study the Pickens Plan. Not perfect, but better than depending upon pipe dream alternatives that may never come to fruition.
...and their argument is nonsense
"They argue that offshore drilling won't help reduce oil prices."
Greater supply will drop prices. It's an economic fact of life. Why do liberals insist on trying to argue against supply and demand?
If you listen to Pelosi and the rest of the anti's, you hear them say that it will be ten years before that oil will make a difference.
Well, I don't know about you, but I fully intend to be driving and buying gasoline in ten years....
...or is the Democrat's plan to destroy America in nine years?
...or is the Democrat's plan
...or is the Democrat's plan to destroy America in nine years?
Come on, are you serious? That would be what this administration of the past 8 years has done.
Lets drill of NC's coast and not worry about spills/accidents/environment/anything..that will work! Lets not even worry about alternative energy, in fact, lets have no energy plan at all except to give breaks to big oil and the upper class!!! that will work...oh wait, it won't
Our last major oil spill from offshore drilling
...was in 1969.
We've learned quite a bit in forty years.
What you don't understand
Is that offshore drilling/shale extraction is only profitable when oil is over $100/barrel. So the price of gas will not be greatly affected, there will just be more of it to buy at $3.90/gallon.
You "supply/demand" drill here, drill now screamers are just silly. Little wonder you see the economy as sound.
Time to crack the books and study
If you think that offshore drilling isn't economical unless oil is at $100 a barrel, you know absolutely nothing about oil recovery. How many offshore wells were being built when oil was $25 a barrel? HUNDREDS. Go check out the Gulf and the North Sea.
Oil shale extraction makes economic sense once the price rises above $50 a barrel.
Take the time to learn about oil and you can retire wealthy....or you can just make up facts and whine about it....
How about the Republicans
How about the Republicans making it impossible to live in America? It's not just the Dems, but the politicians as a whole. There would be another word for Donkey in front of the whole if you drop the w.
We need a new government that's run by the people for the people.. Oh we tried that but the politicians forgot that a long, long time ago.
It sure looks like it's already destroyed
Am I better off than 8 years ago? Duh, ummm, duh...I don't think so! Pelosi and her crew ain't no better either. The world market dictates oil price. Drillin' is only going to help the oil companies (which i have no problem with), it's not going to bring the price down.