[  ] [  ] [  ] [  ] [  ] Energy crunch: Can offshore drilling help avert an energy crisis?
|
[  ] [ ] Yes
- US offshore drilling would hardly lower global oil prices Arnold Schwarzenegger said in June 2008, "Politicians have been throwing around all kinds of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and ending the ban on offshore drilling. But anyone who tells you this would bring down gas prices any time soon is blowing smoke."[1]
- Offshore drilling will not affect OPEC's ability to affect prices. Robert Kaufmann, director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies at Boston University said, "There's nothing on the supply side that we can really do to disrupt OPEC's ability to influence prices."[2]
- Greater conservation is more important than offshore oil drilling. Lisa Wangsness. "New offshore drilling not a quick fix, analysts say". Boston.com. 20 June 2008 - "Environmentalists argue that the pollution caused by drilling could compromise fragile ecosystems for very little economic benefit when the United States should be focusing on conservation - the cheapest barrel of oil, they like to say, is the one we don't have to buy - and developing better renewable energy sources."
- The offshore drilling ban is not responsible for rising gas prices. "Expanded offshore drilling is no answer to our energy crisis". Citizen Times. 16 July 2008 - "It’s beyond disingenuous to imply, as the president did, that the prohibition on offshore drilling is responsible for the present run-up in gas prices or that allowing offshore drilling would do anything to bring prices down. In 2005 when the Republican-controlled Congress agreed to give more than $14 billion in tax subsidies and increased the number of drilling permits in the U.S., gas was $2.29. Today the national average is about $4.10."
|
[ ] [ ] No
- US oil crisis warrants drastic action and offshore oil drilling "An Outdated Ban". Washington Post. 28 June 2006 - "The United Statesis suffering a major energy crisis right now, and we should be drilling in as many places as we can manage. Offshore drilling may be a short-term solution to a long-term energy problem, but if countries like China can already drill and drain our nearby coastal regions of oil and gas deposits, there's no reason why we shouldn't save ourselves a few bucks at the gas pump until alternative energy sources are further developed."
- A comprehensive US energy plan must include offshore drilling "An Outdated Ban". Washington Post. 28 June 2006 - "The United Statesis suffering a major energy crisis right now, and we should be drilling in as many places as we can manage. Offshore drilling may be a short-term solution to a long-term energy problem, but if countries like China can already drill and drain our nearby coastal regions of oil and gas deposits, there's no reason why we shouldn't save ourselves a few bucks at the gas pump until alternative energy sources are further developed."
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [  ] Timing: Would offshore drilling come too late?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
|
[ ] [ ] No
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Production: Will offshore drilling significantly contribute to oil production?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
- No big supply there
- To put that in perspective, it would satisfy U.S. demand for somewhere in the neighborhood of two to two and one-half years at present consumption rates."
|
[ ] [ ] No
- Offshore, deep-water drilling is the final frontier of oil. A USA Today article published on June 28, 2008, titled "Deepwater oil fields are a final frontier," notes, "By 2015, Chevron expects deepwater wells to account for one-quarter of offshore oil production vs. 9% today." The US must recognize this potential, and tap into it by lifting its ban on offshore drilling.[4]
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Existing reserves: Should the US tap existing reserves first?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
|
[ ] [ ] No
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Foreign dependence: Would offshore drilling reduce US foreign dependencies?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
- Offshore drilling discourages investments that help end foreign dependences. Barack Obama said, "And when I am President, I will keep the moratorium in place and prevent oil companies from drilling off Florida’s coasts. That’s how we can protect our coasts and still make the investments that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and bring down gas prices for good."
|
[ ] [ ] No
- Offshore drilling would help US break dependence on foreign oil. "An Outdated Ban". Washington Post. 28 June 2006 - "It's completely ridiculous that we are forgoing any sources of oil with gas prices as high as they are, especially when these sources would simultaneously decrease our own dependence on foreign oil."
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Natural gas: Will offshore drilling dramatically improve natural gas production?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
|
[ ] [ ] No
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Exceptions: How do exceptions to the ban play into the debate?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
|
[ ] [ ] No
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Environment: Does offshore drilling threaten the environment?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
- Offshore drilling will only contribute to Global Warming. Any new oil will drill from the ground and burn as fuel will release more carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Each barrel offshore drilling, therefore, will contribute to global warming.
- Offshore oil drilling risks oil spills and massive environmental damage. "Today we think offshore oil drilling could be the final straw in the unfolding collapse of New England fisheries." - Priscilla Brooks, director of the Ocean Conservation Project at the Conservation Law Foundation.[5]
- One of the biggest oil drilling oil spills occurred on January 1969, when an oil line blowout spilled 3 million gallons of crude oil into the Pacific. More than 10,000 birds died, covered with too much oil to fly. Sea grasses were smothered. This event was so massive in scale, that it helped spark the beginning of the environmental movement in America. The offshore oil drilling ban is, therefore, an important symbol of the values of environmentalism, and should be maintained.[6]
- Offshore drilling ban is an important environmental commitment and symbol. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in June 2008, "We made a decision a while back to say no drilling off our shores in California, and we are serious about that and we're not going to change that, no matter who is recommending other things."[7]
- Transporting offshore oil to shores by ship has environmental costs.
- Transporting offshore oil to shores by pipeline has environmental costs.
|
[ ] [ ] No
- Offshore drilling can be coupled with aggressive renewable energy policies. Republicans have backed proposals that would allow for more drilling and more funding for renewable energy resources. "We say 'Yes, we can' to finding more. We say 'Yes, we can' to using less," said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.).[8]
- Highly environmentally friendly nations allow offshore drilling. "An Outdated Ban". Washington Post. 28 June 2006 - "Canada and Norway, two countries that care about the environment, have allowed offshore drilling for years and do not regret it."
- The environmental footprint of offshore drilling is negligible James Hackett, president & CEO of Anadarko Petroleum, on energy issues, said in an interview with Larry Kudlow, "[We’ve] got a world class project that is the deepest producing well in the history of the world. It’s providing clean, natural gas to America, about 1.5 percent of all of our gas supply. Everyday it’s being provided from a football field and a half sized environmental footprint, a two-hour flight away from the shoreline. So it’s not in any visual contact with any human being. These platforms have gone through 200-year hurricanes, back in 2005, without any environmental consequences. It’s a bit of a fiction hoisted on us by people who don’t know better."[9]
- Directional drilling allows a single well to tap massive oil reservoirs. Suzanne Sitherwood. "Let coastal states drill offshore if they want to". Journal-Constitution. 17 July 2008 - "While some argue that we don't want to see exploration in these pristine areas, the fact is that with today's technology, we can sensitively explore through directional drilling about 30,000 acres of surface lands with a single well. Isn't that a bargain when you calculate the cost to Americans to continue to rely on energy overseas, especially the volatile Mideast?"
- Banning offshore drilling forces oil to be shipped dangerously by tanker. "An Outdated Ban". Washington Post. 28 June 2006 - "it's even possible that the drilling ban increases the danger of oil spills in coastal waters: Less local drilling means more incoming traffic from oil tankers, which by some reckonings are riskier."
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Wind-fall profit tax: Is a windfall profit tax a better alternative?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
- Push to lift offshore drilling ban is driven by special interests. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate Environment Committee said in July 2008, "This proposal is something you'd expect from an oil company CEO, not the president of the United States. The president is taking special-interest government to a new level and threatening our thriving coastal economy."[10]
- A windfall profit tax is a better solution than offshore drilling.
|
[ ] [ ] No
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] State rights: Is it wrong to give states the right to decide?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
|
[ ] [ ] No
- Coastal states should have the right to engage in offshore drilling. Suzanne Sitherwood. "Let coastal states drill offshore if they want to". For the Journal-Constitution. 17 July 2008 - "States ought to be able to determine for themselves whether or not to allow offshore drilling. As a coastal state, Georgia's voice can weigh heavily in the national debate over energy policy. While we do not know what resources are readily available off Georgia's coast, if any, we must join with other coastal states in advocating for increased access to offshore drilling. Each state should be free to drill or not drill. States that allow coastal energy production should also receive a fair share in the revenues generated from the offshore leases."
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Views: Would offshore oil drilling obstruct coastal views for residents?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
- Offshore drilling would harm views and property values. Pat Bishop, a Republic property owner said in June of 2008, "I don't want any more of those ugly derricks out there."[11]
|
[ ] [ ] No
- Deepsea oil rigs are out of the view of coastal populations.
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Public opinion: Where does the public stand on this issue?
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
Click on the pencil icon and research and write arguments here
|
[ ] [ ] No
- The majority of Americans support offshore drilling. A Rasmussen poll found that 67% of voters nationwide support offshore drilling. In Florida, a poll released on June 30 showed that 59% of Floridians supported offshore drilling.[12]
- More and more favor offshore drilling with crisis looming. C. Jeffrey Eshelman of the Independent Petroleum Assn. of America said, "We're seeing a large shift in public attitudes toward exploration."[13]
|
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Pro/con resources
|
[ ] [ ] Yes
|
[ ] [ ] No
|
[ ] See also
[ ] External links
|
]
]
]
]