R.I.P. Offshore Oil Drilling Moratorium: What Could We Have Done Better?
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 10. 1.08
photo: Mark Phillips
Considering that both Republicans and Democrats seem to favor, by and large, opening up US coastlines to offshore oil drilling (even if only part of compromising to deal with other energy issues) this whole thing may be a moot point; but today does mark the first day after the federal moratorium on offshore oil expired. At TreeHugger we’ve covered this issue so many times, and said in so many different ways that offshore oil drilling will have virtually no effect on gasoline prices now or, well, ever, that I don’t know if I can say it again. It appears that short-term appeals to economic populism have won the day from long-term environmental and economic good sense.
That said, Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope is more upbeat on the issue, so read on:
Offshore Drilling Battle Not Over
In a press statement circulated by email Pope said,
This is not the last we will see of the moratorium that has protected our coasts since 1981.The drilling ban could very well be restored by a new Congress and president who understand that more offshore drilling will do nothing to lower gas prices or solve our energy crisis.
All the debate about drilling this year accomplished nothing other than serving as a distraction from real energy solutions. Every time Congress tries to implement real clean energy solutions, the oil industry and its allies demand a ransom.
The lapse of the moratorium does temporarily leave the fate of our fragile coasts in the hands of the Minerals Management Service, a scandal-plagued agency that has demonstrated beyond a doubt that it is far too cozy with the oil industry.
While there are efforts underway to accelerate new coastal drilling, we are confident that we can beat back these measures. It's unlikely that any coastal state would risk its tourist economy by allowing drilling within three miles of its beaches. However, we will continue to watch vigilantly over the next few months to ensure that the Bush administration doesn't give away the store before they leave town.
Once the politically-charged election season is over we will be able to revisit this issue as part of a comprehensive energy bill that moves us away from dependence on oil and invests in clean energy solutions.
We're already suffering from years of putting our energy policy in the hands of the oil industry.
While Americans struggle to fill up their tanks, oil companies are raking in record profits. Instead of more offshore drilling, we need a comprehensive energy plan that will put Americans to work and infuse new life into our economy.
For The Fourth Time: The Offshore Oil Isn't Worth It Graph
In case anyone missed the graph of just how much additional oil offshore drilling will bring to the market, in over a decade from now I remind you, check out this chart, reprinted for the fourth time on TreeHugger.
image: Architecture 2030
What Did We Not Communicate?
Perhaps we’ve been preaching too much to the choir on this one. Thoughts? How could this issue have been better presented by the green community? Leave aside the compromise bill that was recently introduced in Congress. How could this issue have been better conveyed to the average person battling high fuel bills?
Offshore Oil Drilling
Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel: McCain v. Obama on Offshore Oil Drilling & ANWR
Strange Bedfellows: Compromise Renewable Energy & Offshore Oil Drilling Legislation Passes in the House
I’m John McCain and I Approve of Offshore Oil Drilling
Quote of the Day: John McCain on Offshore Oil Drilling
Offshore Oil Drilling Will Still Not Lower Gasoline Prices: Barack Obama and Legislative Compromise
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Great! Now in addition to dropping $700B to bail out the financial system, we can spend several more billion to build off shore oil rigs, wait 8-10 years to get them up and running, and pump out a paltry amount of oil for our ever growing consumer needs.
What could we have done? Recognize that BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) is not a viable strategy.
Maybe we should have been focused on creating RESPONSIBLE drilling procedures to protect our "fragile coasts", instead of the parroting the environmental equivalent of "just say no". Unfortunately, repeatedly squealing "no, no, no" has pretty taken environmentalists out of the picture as most are depicted (and rightly so) as being inflexible and unwilling to compromise.
Further, the two sides of your argument don't mesh. If the worldwide contribution from OSD is going to be minimal, then it follows that it's impact on gas prices, the environment, and the development of alternative solutions is going to be minimal as well.
What could we have done? Recognize that BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) is not a viable strategy.
Maybe we should have been focused on creating RESPONSIBLE drilling procedures to protect our "fragile coasts", instead of the parroting the environmental equivalent of "just say no". Unfortunately, repeatedly squealing "no, no, no" has pretty taken environmentalists out of the picture as most are depicted (and rightly so) as being inflexible and unwilling to compromise.
Further, the two sides of your argument don't mesh. If the worldwide contribution from OSD is going to be minimal, then it follows that it's impact on gas prices, the environment, and the development of alternative solutions is going to be minimal as well.
As the button to submit a comment states, Post an intelligent and civil comment, I have seen more anger than solution.
As someone who lives in Florida and is considered a right wing, I DO NOT believe in offshore drilling. It is the economic engine of Florida. Why destroy our tourist industy with oil rigs.
This is the Sunshine State and we Floridians should focus on Solar and offshore wind power.
As my friend states, I am a Poor Republician with Democrat needs.
California is showing the country the way that renewable energy will provide jobs and clean energy.
I follow the technology for renewables and I beleive our inventions will be able to overcome this addition to oil extracted out of the ground.
Another observation, Why isn't the Private Sector investing more in renewables rather than relying on Government to provide incentives.
I agree we should cut off incentives to the oil industry or how about this idea:
If we provide an industry a subsidy and they turn a profit, have them pay back that subsidy to the Government with a little interest to boot.
Just when it looked like the Oily/Bush/Republican administration couldn't deliver any more body blows against the environment of the planet they prove us wrong... let's hope this is one of the last but I think we all know it isn't.
The off-shore drilling in question is in the Western hemisphere, not worldwide. The US has little control over worldwide oil pricing (considering we provide a minimal amount of oil export) and therefore should not expect that by drilling off-shore we could make a significant dent in the price at the pumps.
Not sure how you made the leap from off-shore drilling to the reduction of alternative fuel development, but the point is this: Continuing our ravenous thirst for oil without spending real r&d on alternative solutions will get us no where fast. The amount of oil left in the world is finite and running around trying to suck up the last drops is a futile battle that simply wastes money. The US will NEVER lessen it's dependency on foreign oil unless we develop a viable alternative. This is not speculation, it's a fact. The numbers are black and white. When you consume over 20million barrels a day and only export about 1 million, you're wildly dependent on other countries.
"and the development of alternative solutions is going to be minimal as well."
How does this follow? I don't ever remember a proof of one solution being pretty much the same as every other.
I think the same forces that slow solar and wind will work against more offshore rigs. oil companies are not lining up to build seeing as they aren't using their current leases.
Just a shame the way we behave:
Oil companies make record profits and gouge us at the pumps so lets give them more land so they can do it longer.
Michael, it's not "BANANA" if you explain comprehensively why you are saying "no," which I think lots of people (not just greens) have done. Offshore drilling's not a very difficult argument to deconstruct. The only ones saying "no, no, no" are the anarcho-primitivists - everyone else says yes to many things. We're excited about lots of ideas and lots of technologies.
How does it follow that just because OFD is going to have minimal effect on prices that any other solutions will have a minimal effect too? There's absolutely no reason to think that.
I have to say, the cynic in me has been growing stronger and stronger for the last 8 years.
Perhaps letting the oil companies drill and drill (but requiring them actually drill or lose the leases that they have) is a way to really be able to put the oomph into the "We toldja so."
Once the oil companies have put the foundations for the rigs in place and found the oil to be lacking, we can reuse the foundations for windmills, tidal power projects, offshore resorts, and the like.
In the meantime, folks can be reminded time and time again, "So, we let 'em drill; where's the oil?"
I hate getting nasty but my inner cynic has been beating up my inner optimist for 8 years.
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Of course, the only downside is if they actually DO manage to come up with a surprise load of oil, it'll be that much more carbon desequestered.