Opening ANWR a centerpiece of Stevens' energy strategy
Published Thursday, July 3, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS -- In order for any energy plan to move forward, lawmakers in Washington, D.C., will have to set aside party politics that are blocking domestic oil and gas development, Sen. Ted Stevens said Thursday morning.
“We need to get together as Americans and forget about all this political baloney,” he said. But, he added, relief from high energy prices could come sooner than people realize due to the heavy pressure the public is putting on lawmakers.
Domestic resources - and in particular those in the Arctic and the Outer Continental Shelf - must be developed in the interest of national security, Stevens said.
“It’s been a political question. Unfortunately, it should not be,” he said.
Until the politics change, solutions to the energy crisis will continue to fall short in the face of delay tactics by those opposed to development of Alaska’s oil and gas, he said.
Stevens discussed his energy initiatives at a press conference Thursday at the Cold Climate Housing Research Center, a facility made possible, he noted, through an earmark he promoted.
Energy plans seem to be a foundation for politicians on the campaign trail this year. Stevens cited bills he has introduced recently in Washington, D.C.
His plan is based on four key goals, which he hopes to further through legislation he expects to introduce next week. The central themes are:
* Stevens wants protection for domestic development. He called for a 90-day limit for appeals on development in order to avoid multi-year delays caused by litigation. He is also seeking protection from oil market speculation, which he said is largely responsible for the high prices Americans are paying at the pump.
“That must be stopped,” he said.
* The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should be opened to exploration and development now, Stevens urged. He recommended that all federal revenues generated through ANWR go to alternative and renewable energy projects.
* Success in development of alternative energy sources is going to require investment upfront, Stevens said.
“The difficulty with all these renewables and alternative sources is they all require upfront money,” Stevens said. He advocates creating hydroelectric and geothermal energy and pressed for more funding for alternatives.
* Greater energy efficiency by individuals, businesses and the government will help lessen the nation’s demand. Stevens’ energy plan supports, among other things, a program to allow federal employees to work from home to reduce commutes and gasoline consumption.
Stevens said he supports Gov. Sarah Palin’s short-term energy costs relief plan, which would extend financial aid to Alaskans to help subsidize home heating and other energy bills. He commended Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker for exploration of a coal liquefaction facility, currently under study.
The Interior, in particular, could face serious changes if energy prices continue to rise, Stevens said, adding that people are already leaving villages for bigger cities like Fairbanks. He warned that Fort Wainwright, Fort Greely and Eielson Air Force Base will likely face another round of closure discussions when a new administration enters the White House in January.
“They are the most expensive bases we have, per capita, in the United States,” he said. The highest costs are for fuel. He said local investment in coal liquefaction and synthetic fuel manufacturing could help ensure the continued operation of the military installations.
Community Discussion
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Further proof he's an idiot!
Offshore drilling is the most environmentally risky method. With ANWR as an option, and with a spur pipeline to deadhorse to transport the oil, I can't imagine why they would consider offshore development first.
If not now, when?
There's more hydrocarbons in all of the junk tires, and garbage dumps in the lowdown48 than there is in ANWR.
It will take years to get the resources in ANWR to market.
Getting the hydrocarbons out of America's junk has already begun and is rapidly growing.
Take another nap Uncle Ted, it's just a bad dream...
http://www.globalresourcecorp.com/Engine...
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"He is also seeking protection from oil market speculation, which he said is largely responsible for the high prices Americans are paying at the pump."
So pass legislation to stop the speculation and leave ANWR intact. That will be the most immediate solution to high energy costs. We do not have an oil shortage. If we did, we would be waiting in line at the pumps and be rationing oil and gas. Speculators should be prosecuted for what they have done to the nation's economy, along with President Bush. We can thnak George and his gang for letting a handful of people get rich at the expense of the entire nation.
Looks like Unca Ted feels a need to deliver on his commitments to VECO after all that work they did on his house. Getting ANWR sold to the highest bidder would accomplish that.
ANWR could provide oil equal to today's production at Prudhoe, for many years. I can't imagine why anyone would be against doubling our oil output.
Funny how we behave in the US. We don't want ANWR open for oil drilling, while all sorts of nations all around us are into oil drilling. Just look a Russia, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and several Middle Eastern nations. Russia is not only drilling next to the US, but are slowly claiming the North Pole region closest to their motherland. In fact, the Russians have already dropped Russian flags claiming certain regions of the North sea's bottom that are supposed to hold large deposits of oil. Should the US just roll over and die economically? Besides, what keeps the AK's economy going, hot air?
It doesn't matter who pushes for opening ANWR, be it a Republican or a Democrat.
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