We can’t drill our way out

I agree. We need to consider what we’re getting “out” of - foreign dependency, greenhouse gases or problems related to climate change, an uneven economy. Which of these issues does drilling in the Arctic fix? Foreign dependency, maybe, but there will likely be negotiations with an increasingly hostile Russia. It increases greenhouse gas emissions, complicates climate change, and continues to widen the gap in the economy. Nuclear power brings in a different set of problems, but the same problems that nuclear has always had.

It doesn’t make sense to continue concentrating on and exploiting energy sources that have already screwed us over. And again, there is so much potential in solar and wind power that it doesn’t make sense not to develop them into real energy sources for the whole planet.

Nuclear power is dead, uneconomical unsecured and there is no way yet to get rid of the waste - despite the governments promise back in the 70’s that they would find one. All of those power plants (nuclear) were green lighted because of a promise the government has yet to keep. The big utility companies are currently suing the Federal government because this very specific promise was never kept. It was a binding, contractual promise.

Once the oil boys from Texas are “booted” out - tax payer dollars (subsidies) hopefully will be redirected towards, wind, solar, hydro and the electric car, and clean burning coal. F.Y.I. Gulliani is taking the most money from the oil lobby. So if you cry babies want change find out where your representatives are and vote for the politicians not taking oil lobby money and maybe you’ll have more money for grants.

Buck up - and keep the faith
Benjamin Napier’s dire predictions border on hilarity if it wasn’t so sad he was so depressed - Benjamin do you know where your representatives stand in regard to the oil lobby - that’s one place you can start - how about joining the “Union of Concerned Scientist?” Be the change and lead by example.

We will not run out of electricity. Belatedly, more nuclear plants will be built. Japan and France have a much higher percentage of nuclear energy than we do and therefore less concern about foreign oil, and its cost. Waste disposal is an emotional/political problem, not a factual one.

George Curtis

To Benjamin Napier and Thomas Trevor, I think we could be seeing a viable and sustainable alternative energy source much closer than 50-70 years if private industry and government were to seriously fund research into solar and wind power. There is more potential there than there is drilling in the Arctic, in terms of energy we won’t regret using.

For the foreseeable future (say 50-70 years), like it or not, we are dependent on oil. No amount of wishful thinking will change that. It is simply a fact.

At some point in that 50-70 years it is possible, maybe even likely, a new energy source will be invented. Until then, we are going to use oil. I don’t care what you think about what we should use instead. We are going to use oil. It is that simple. So do we get it here or, from foreign sources? I say here. Drill in ANWAR, off the coast of Florida, Texas, California and use shale oil. Whatever it takes. All other countries will be using their oil supplies. Why not us?

The only good thing about this ruling that it came from the ninth circuit and, therefore has a high probability of been overturned by by the US Supreme Court. This is especially true because the ninth circuit steadfastly refused to cite what part of US law they were relying on in their ruling.

YOu folks might want to seriously consider what you are going to do in a post crude world. Electricity will surely be rationed as the government will get priority. Food will be very scarce and all other items of use will be scarce to unavailable. This will include medical care. Transportation will stop and with it everything that supports our lifestyle. Are you ready to die in government camps? Have you a place to go? Have you a plan that will include a secluded place far enough from cities to avoid the onslaught of starving masses? Have you a plan to survice in a barter economy?

The United States can enter a new dark ages in just a few years. Our economy is showing the ravages of Keynsian/Marxist economic policy and the environmental extremists have succeeded in gettign policy makers to listen to their drivel. I think that starvation and death are getting to be emminent. I truely hope I am wrong.

It’s quite sad the public is still living in the matrix thinking the oil giants will have the solutions after peak oil.But what can money and high tech do to replace the fossil fuel accumulated in millions of years