This was a big week for our Presidential candidates and energy policy, specifically domestic oil drilling. With the recent decision by a House Sub-committee to continue the ban on more offshore drilling, spirited discussion regarding domestic oil has sprung up everywhere. This week John McCain extended his support for offshore drilling, stating that he thinks the ban should be lifted however he also made the statement that he opposes any drilling of ANWR. Barack Obama opposes lifting the ban on offshore drilling and ANWR drilling.

As Americans, we have a lot to think about. The fact is we do have domestic oil that we are not extracting. Geologists report we have billions of barrels in both the Bakkan Shale and ANWR. Why is John McCain in favor of lifting the offshore drilling ban while at the same time opposed to ANWR drilling? Is it politically convenient? Is it a possible attempt to satisfy both sides of a debate? Why is Barack Obama opposed to all new domestic drilling? Despite the fact that offshore drilling is technologically at its best, we have other options in other areas.

There is very strong opposition to opening any new domestic areas for drilling oil. However to what extent are we, as a nation, willing to go? We continue to import oil and there is no indication that this will cease. In the Anchorage Daily News online, Charles Krauthammer, a Washington Post Columnist, states:

“The entire Arctic refuge is one-third the size of the United Kingdom (which includes Scotland and Wales). The drilling site would be one-seventh the size of Manhattan Island. The footprint is tiny. Moreover, forbidding drilling there does not prevent despoliation. It merely exports it. The crude oil we’re not getting from the Arctic we import instead from places like the Niger Delta, where millions live and where the resulting pollution and oil spillages poison the lives of many of the world’s most wretchedly poor.”

Strong environmental policies coupled with technological advances for extraction can give us access to the massive amounts of resources at our fingertips. This does not mean we have to deplete our resources, however, with good stewardship we can use what is ours. Acquiring our own oil is something that should be realistically explored from all fronts instead of continually shut down. Energy Independence will benefit all Americans and it will take the use of our own traditional resources such as oil, in addition to a passionate pursuit of alternative energy sources to accomplish this goal.

Related Posts:

• McCain Calls for More Offshore Drilling: What Else Would He Say in Houston? by Tim Hurst
• US Will Export $440 Billion For Oil in 2008 by Clayton B. Cornell
• Help Set the Environmental Agenda for the 44th President by Tim Hurst

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The American Public Transportation Authority reports 35% more travelers will use public transportation this summer. They provide this list of the country’s top ten summer city destinations and their expected use of public transportation:

New York City (53 percent - up 5 percent)
Washington, DC (47 percent - up 1 percent)
Boston (48 percent - up 5 percent)
San Francisco (40 percent – remained constant)
Philadelphia (38 percent - up 4 percent)
Chicago (35 percent - up 4 percent)
Seattle (32 percent – up 2 percent)
Las Vegas (30 percent – up 4 percent)
Los Angeles (31 percent – up 5 percent)
Atlanta (25 percent – up 3 percent)

Needless to say in a country where each household owns an average of 2.28 vehicles, this surge in use of public transportation is coming with growing pains. The increase in gas prices is effecting public transportation providers, which will be reflected in the expected increase in fares. Many companies are finding it necessary to increase their fleets and routes. The cost of expanding their operations coupled with the high fuel prices are a concern. Some companies that provide public transportation are making cut backs while others are pressing forward. Overall, it seems those involved in the public transit industry are looking at this increased need for their services as positive.

One of the benefits of living in a free capitalist society is the ability to choose where we spend our money. As Americans we know, money talks! Bus, train, subway or bike….as a society we are joining together and saying no to the rising cost of fuel. There is excitement in the air (and less CO2) as we join together this summer either by choice or forced compliance. I welcome the change!

Other related posts: Public Transit is for Lovers; Why I Sold My Car, or How I Learned to Stop Driving and Love the Bus

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One country, younger than my parents, defying the odds at its inception and surviving many challenges during these last 60 years. With the help of some and despite the enmity of others, Israel has survived. As the news of this beautiful national bird circles the globe, those of us who give great importance to environmental and political issues can celebrate too. The choosing of this bird has brought the Society of the Protection of Nature in Israel, the Israel Ornithological Society and the Jerusalem Bird Observatory into the limelight. Bringing them attention and hopefully financial donations to help their environmental causes. In an article from the Associated Press, Ornithologist Amir Balaban stated,

“We’re moving into our adulthood, as an adult state we should be working on protecting our environment.”

He, of course, is referring to Israel as a nation moving into their adulthood. I believe we can apply that as citizens of a great country and global community. We should all be working on protecting our environment.

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The Price – how is it determined?

Asia Times Online reports that approximately 60% of the price of oil per barrel is determined by

“…unregulated futures speculation by hedge funds, banks and financial groups using the London ICE Futures and New York Nymex futures exchanges and uncontrolled inter-bank or over-the-counter trading to avoid scrutiny”.

This report goes on to explain how oil futures are purchased using a system that creates a leverage that helps drive prices continually higher.

Also, constant talk of our oil supply depleting (often referred to as “peak oil”) causes the price to continue to rise. Despite current big oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Brazil making plans to extract more oil and recent reports by the American Geological Survey showing an estimated 3.65 billion barrels of oil in the Bakken there is still talk of the world’s oil supply being diminished.

What can we do?

It is apparent that the world still has an oil supply, big business is determining the price of oil and we are still purchasing gas for daily consumption. Out of necessity or desire we can make a decision to purchase less gas. We can make a statement with our purchasing power. Until we, as a community, decide to stop (or greatly reduce) buying gas at these prices, the prices will continue to rise.

Again we return to the pursuit of alternative energy. As a community we must continue this pursuit. As products and services grow, business opportunities grow too and we will see “money talk”. When we start spending our time and resources on things other than gas and oil the government will jump on board too. We can begin today, avoiding the gas pump!

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Following the press conference, APRN spoke with Senator Ted Stevens. Legislation sponsored by Senator Stevens and Senator Lisa Murkowski, both from Alaska, allows for drilling in a designated section of ANWR if the price of oil reaches $125 per barrel and stays at that price for five consecutive days. These two Senators are advocates of drilling ANWR to obtain our own oil in order to drastically reduce the amount of oil we import from the middle east. Based on the amount of oil currently purchased and used per day, they say the oil obtained from ANWR would reduce our price at the pump.

According to Senator Stevens’ web site he supports a balanced approach to the energy crisis which includes retrieving domestic oil, conservation, and alternative energy sources. I agree with Senator Stevens, we need a balanced approach. Is drilling ANWR the answer? In April it was reported that billions of barrels of oil are sitting under the Bakken Shale, and that area is already being drilled. Would it make more sense to continue and expand our efforts there?

The price of gas is continuing to rise, apparently we (as a country) are not going to refrain from purchasing oil to feed our gas guzzling habits. There is much discussion about what to do. Again, I return to the citizens and look beyond the politicians. Plan more and drive less. Walk, ride your bike or stay home for a change of pace. However you want to contribute there are things we can do to make a statement to our government and to those purchasing oil from the middle east.

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The students are listening and learning. One father (who happens to be a coal mining equipment distributor) candidly remarked that he does not want his daughter influenced and becoming one of those “tree huggers”. His daughter, a student of Miss Litton’s, respectfully comments that in her opinion her father’s generation does not understand the damage that has been done to the environment. Miss Litton sticks to scientific questions and research. She has her students read Meltdown a book written by Patrick Michaels, a professor at the University of Virginia. The book holds the view that Global Warming is cyclical and that the news coverage has been dominated by hysteria. On the other hand, she teaches her students about green house gases and reducing the use of non-renewable energy sources. Her students research and discuss how long energy sources such as coal and oil will last. Miss Litton encourages pursuing clean renewable energy sources.

The president of the National Science Teachers Association states that Miss Litton is an exception to the rule. Most high school science teachers do not hold degrees in this field. He also states that most local school districts in our country view environmental science in the same manner as the evolution debate. He said they consider it “too hot” and stay away from offering classes in the subject.

This brings us to the question, is this possible? Can we educate our children about environmental science without the politics that often accompanies such discussions? Do environmental efforts have to be political or even politically motivated? I think we can embrace this together, from all sides. I agree with and applaud Miss Litton in her efforts!

Photo Credit: Riah’s Photography

Then I discovered the ads were produced by the We Campaign which was started by The Alliance for Climate Protection. My heart almost stopped beating when I realized I absolutely loved something that has its roots in the efforts of Al Gore. Yes, I am a conservative, and I admittedly have a strong aversion to Al Gore. Nonetheless, I repeatedly returned to We and to the ads. I overcame my stubborn ideals (my first instinct was, I cannot promote this because it belongs to Al Gore) and decided to embrace the cause (my heart said, you are passionate about bi-partisan efforts in environmentalism and you must promote this).

Climate change is an effort that must be embraced by all sides. Progress will not be made until the “I am right and you are wrong” statements and innuendos cease. The argument over who or what is causing Global Warming is ineffective and only halts environmental efforts on all fronts. For my conservative friends who think Global Warming is a “non-issue” I say, embrace a cause for the planet and think beyond the Global Warming label. This is our environment, our habitat, and we must make an effort to take care of it.

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The Bakken Shale, comprised of thin layers of rock about two miles down, holds about 3.65 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil, the USGS said. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska could hold more than 10 billion barrels of oil.

Although ANWR is currently federally protected land, there are already companies retrieving the oil from the Bakken Shale. The current survey from the USGS, completed at the request of Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is viewed as good news according to a statement in the Fox News story. This is due to the 25% increase in this estimate of retrievable oil over previous estimates in years past. Senator Dorgan believes this will bring “significant new investment” into the area.

As a proponent of energy independence, I am in favor of acquiring our own oil as part of that goal. However, the focus of energy independence cannot entirely rest on obtaining our own oil for the purpose of supplying our massive oil consumption habits. That is where this type of discovery is alarming. Pursuit of this resource can be a positive thing if environmental protection policies are adhered to during the retrieving process, coupled with continued efforts in pursuing alternate renewable sources of energy.

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With that money they purchased three large refurbished wind turbines which now power their elementary school and the superintendent’s office. They have since received another grant and energy smart incentives. The Lakers School District now owns a biodiesel processor in addition to their wind turbines. This spring their high school students will have a “Pressing Party”. They will gather sunflower seeds from the plants growing beneath their wind turbines, combine them with soybeans then press these seeds and beans to obtain oil to make alternative fuel.

Why is this political? This is our future. The students in this community are learning first hand about creating alternate energy sources. Reportedly the students in the Lakers School district are interested in pursuing green in their community and careers. Teaching our children to be good stewards of our land and resources is the future of our country’s economy and security. Beyond politics and Washington, American citizens pursuing energy independence is what will catapult this movement and make a difference.

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The effort by Congress in 2007 attempts to transform our current transportation system by mandating higher vehicle efficiency, an increase in production of biofuels, and efforts in renewable electricity. More pie in the sky rhetoric? Well I believe that depends on us, the people, the citizens, innovators, entrepreneurs and activists in our country. American history teaches us about a people who sacrificed their lives settling in a new land, willing to give up convenience for their future. No, we don’t have to settle in a new land. I doubt we will have to give up too much convenience. The technology is available and we are able to transform our current dependence on oil to renewable energy sources.

Why is independence from foreign oil a valid goal? I believe independence in any area is a favorable goal. When a person or entity has independence they have the power to make choices, to contribute more to their community. Self-sufficiency provides security and opportunity for growth. For our nation, independence on many fronts does not mean we do not want to contribute to the global community. It means we are able to be healthy contributors to that community. In our case, as Americans, if we choose to pursue a goal of Energy Independence we can see positive change in our economy, national security and our environment. All of which will allow us to participate in our global community in a more productive way.

She became incessant and consistent in her convictions as the years passed by. The groves of trees all around us were still being destroyed. She wanted to write to the President of the United States. We started to become concerned. Where was this coming from? How did this happen? A green girl in our very red home. It became a joke — our little “treehugger,” we would say.

One day, standing in our kitchen, she asked me a very pointed question. “Do we recycle?” she knew the answer, by this time she was 5 or 6. I honestly said, “no” (I was a little ashamed). “Why not?” she pressed. I didn’t have an answer. What was I to say? The county provides containers for that very purpose and they retrieve the containers from the end of our driveway. Instead of answering her question I said “Let’s start now.” She was pleased. We immediately found the recycle containers in the garage and put them in a handy place. Then we went on line and looked up the rules, days and times for our area.

My green light grew brighter. She became more outspoken in homes that we visited as well. Innocently she asked them if they recycle as she finished with a plastic container or soda can. Her message was clear.

More years have passed and she is 11 now. Recently she said “I’m not a treehugger.” I asked her why she would say that and her reply was revealing. “I do care about the environment but I’m not a treehugger.” My sensitive girl had taken offense to our comments. I realized her green light, that had once shown so brightly, was an innate part of her. We were able to dim that light by our offhand remarks and basic disregard for her concerns. I regretted not allowing her to write her letter to the President years ago.

She is my inspiration. Encouraging me to passionately pursue a green lifestyle, green products and green issues in our world. She is a social conservative (at this point… I will remember my past mistakes and embrace her unconditionally no matter what her stance on the issues) and a very green girl. She is a green light in a red home. Actually, she is a green light in a red community. Her statement today, “God gave us the earth; we should take care of it.” I agree.

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