A Solution for ANWR

[KingM34]

In general, I am in favor of preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but I recognize that it will not remain protected forever. There are too many economic pressures insisting on its development. The arrival of peak oil, whether it comes in the near term or 20-30 years in the future, will make the billions of barrels of oil in ANWR an irresistible prize. Knowing that these resources will be developed sooner or later, it is wise to put a plan in place that will cause the least amount of damage possible to this wilderness area.

For conservationists like myself, it is tempting to view everything through an aesthetic lens. An unspoiled landscape is beautiful to the human eye. Ironically, this may be because it awakens something in our evolutionary past that sees an unspoiled landscape as fresh territory, where one's family or tribe can settle and enjoy the rich, untouched resources.

Read the rest: http://theopinionator.com/energy/anwr_solution1.html

[unhappycamper]

1. Here's a simple solution to a simple problem:

Just say no.

Eradicating habitats and species in the quest for petroleum energy that kills our planet does not seem to be a wise choice.

[bagrman]

2. Why aren't the Oil companies breaking down the door.

I haven't heard where the bidding war has started for drilling in ANWR. Problem is there may or may not be a Billion barrels there. And the amount of energy expended to get it out, will probably exceed what will be recovered. The oil companies know how to make a buck and if there isn't one there they aren't going after it. It's similar to why there are no new refineries, there is no extra oil to put through it, it won't generate the capital to pay for it self.

Latr
chris

[Delphinus]

6. This is basically what Jared Diamond said

on an NPR radio interview earlier this year.

[FrogOne]

3. Drilling in the Carribean

I, too, am an environmentalist -- and an avid scuba diver with a deep respect for our oceans. However, I now hear that China and Cuba are collaborating to drill in the Carribean and untap an oil field vaster than anything in the Middle East. And China's record on the environment is outrageously bad. We should have been in there after our first oil shortage under Jimmy Carter, drilling safely instead. If we had, we would not be dependent on the Middle East today.

[KingM34]

4. hmm

I'm not sure we can drill ourselves to energy independence. We use too much and our traditional resources--while large--are not big enough. Having said that, we need to recognize that drilling is going to happen and instead of fighting it tooth and nail no matter where it happens, we should be making sure it happens in a responsible way.

[FrogOne]

5. Agreed

In a responsible way. And with the technology we have now, there's no reason not to.