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On Energy & ANWR

by Gov. Sarah Palin

July 16, 2008

 

What will it take for Congress to enact comprehensive energy policy that includes increased domestic production of oil and gas, renewable and alternative energy, and conservation? It seems to us outside of the Capital Beltway that virtually every effort to accomplish this is met with criticism and failure.

In my opinion, the debate about energy policy is no longer theoretical or abstract. Our failure to enact an energy policy is having real consequences for every American in their daily lives and has begun to affect America's place in the world. Alaska is ready, willing, and able to assist the nation in addressing our acute and expanding energy needs. Like many other states, we would like the opportunity to help.

Congressional approval of responsible petroleum development in the coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) - the most promising unexplored petroleum province in North America - would be of incalculable benefit to my state and our nation.

In the last few weeks, proposals have been tabled to permit oil exploration and development in the 80 percent of the federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)which is off-limits to such activity. I strongly support OCS development in Alaska and elsewhere as a necessary component of a sound energy strategy. However, it makes no sense to consider the OCS and to ignore the possibility of exploration and development in highly perspective upland areas,including ANWR.

As this is written, the Alaska Legislature is considering proposals to commercialize and transport the vast quantities of clean-burning natural gas that are located on the North Slope.

Already, 32 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves have been identified, and many trillions of additional cubic feet are thought to exist on the North Slope and in off shore areas of Alaska.

This gas is important to consumers in the lower 48 states, as prices rise and we are increasingly concerned about the carbon footprint resulting from energy utilization.

If we don't move now to enact an energy policy that includes more oil and gas production from domestic sources, including ANWR and the federal OCS, we may look back someday and realize that we failed to perceive a critical crossroad in the history of this nation. I don't think it's overly dramatic to say that our country's future and the quality of life for every American depends on the decisions that are made or not made in the next few months.

Comments

Dennis M. said…

 Amen to your comments Governor Palin. It's nice to know that their are still a few leaders with some common sense and not swayed by special interest groups in Washington. I believe that if we don't begin depending on our own resources soon and bring these gas prices down our economy will not be able to stand the strain. As much as I believe that alternative energy is a goal that we need to develope were still only in the very early stages of making that a reality. The only answer is drill now!!  

over 2 years
Amanda said…
Governor Palin, the only way I can see myself voting for John McCain in November is if he chooses you as his running mate!!!  God willing, you are the future of our party!!
over 2 years
Alferd J. Lemire said…
Janet Cronin has a worthy concern about wildlife. However, documentaries and articles demonstrate that the builders of the Alaska pipeline took the needs for traversal routes of caribou and other animals into account. A warm pipeline creates a microclimate near it, but I doubt that that helped caribou, who likely winter far from the pipeline’s route. But the pipeline surely didn’t harm the herd, thanks to good planning, since herd numbers have increased since the pipeline was laid down. Surely, the pressure to minimize or eliminate any deleterious effect on wildlife will produce even better construction in ANWR, shrinking the footprint. New and improved technology will help. I had planned to write this: the 401-word article under Sarah Palin's name was impressively well-argued and well-written. Either she has talent or knows to find and use it. Either fact suggests why she has done well in Alaska and why she has something to offer to the Lower 48 and Hawai'i.
over 2 years
katfish said…

Madam Governor you are SPOT ON!

We need a VP like you or even a presidential candidate!

 

Janet Cronin - PLEASE do some honest research regarding the existing Alaska pipeline relative to caribou - not only has it NOT harmed them it has actually HELPED increase herd numbers in measurable and VERIFIABLE fashion. 

over 2 years
JANICE MORWICK said…

The demacrats BIG argument against drilling, is we will not see results for 5 to 10 years, I am just glad they are not in charge of cancer research.

Janice Morwick

over 2 years
Amanda L. said…

I fully support Govenor Palin's solutions to our energy woes.  She's my top choice for McCain's VP.

over 2 years
Jason said…

Very well said, Governor, and very well thought out. Short term, we need an energy policy that recognizes we are dependent on petroleum for transportation, heating, and manufacturing. We need a policy sensitive to the environment but also pragmatic for needs (and we need to cut down on the optional and/or wasteful use of petroleum, much of which is ending up in landfills as plastic waste). Long term, we need to augment or replace petroleum with nuclear, solar, geothermal and other green/efficient technologies, recognizing that they won't come tomorrow, and will need massive investment in research and infrastructure. Sadly, I don't include biofuels, since the diversion of corn for ethanol has resulted in the sharp rise in food prices, making a bad economy even worse (we should look at Brazil's solution, using cane sugar cutting -- biomass waste -- to convert to ethanol).

In addition to our natural resources, we have another resource we havent' tapped much in this area: the natural ingenuity and industry of the American entrepeneur ... we need to make this a priority similar to the race to the moon -- energy independence ought to be a key discussion in this year's Presidential campaign ... and a governor with experience in Energy policy and conservation ought to be a major player in that discussion ...

 Thanks to both the Senator and the Governor for bringing this issue (and the potential Alaskan solutions) the exposure it needs ....

over 2 years
Eric said…
Drilling for more oil and ensuring that it does not get sold to foreign countries might seem to violate free trade, but 95% of the oil companies in the world are state owned.  We really need to get more Nuclear reactors and allow the fuel to be recycled when it's finished (Thank you Jimmy "the big idiot" Carter for banning that practice) to reduce nuclear waste.  I read the Three Mile Accident report and it was such a minor event that our worries about Nuclear power is completely off-base (of US design, the USSR plants were poorly developed on the cheap).
over 2 years
Nelson said…
I heart Sarah Palin! Please be the VEEP!
over 2 years
Scott Bothewell said…
Gov. Palin, you are a remarkable woman with sound polies on all things conservative. I sure hope that if you don't get that position a lot of us are hoping and praying you get, you at least get to oversee the Department of the Interior so that you can undo the havoc that Kempthorne has saddled western/rural states with. In the mean time, keep up the good work!
over 2 years
Dave Martin said…

There is NO "clearing" of land required for the tiny ANWR drill site. It is basically a barren wasteland. See the pictures for yourself as most people have no idea what is there and how the wildlife there would not be affected. Go here:

http://petesplace-peter.blogspot.com/2008/07/oil-and-gas-exploration-in-arctic.html

over 2 years
N R Keller said…

We will need oil in some form for decades to come. Maybe we'll need less of it (via flex-fuels), but transportation is a key element of modern society.  Air cargo and trucking, for example, are indispensable.  Asphalt roads are made from oil.  Never mine the myriad products that are hydrocarbon based.

In many parts of the world farmers lack transportation infrastructure to get their products to market.

Without robust fuel supplies our existence would be brutish, nasty and short.  Let's hope this time we learn our lesson and increase our domestic supplies of oil and other hydrocarbons.  And nuclear too.

over 2 years
Chris McClure said…
Drill ANWR, drill OCS, develope oil shale, tar sands, natural gas -- produce more.  Do it responsibly.  Avoid the most sensitive areas.  Have a good solid plan that includes wildlife.  Thank you Governor Palin for joining Senator Cornyn in his efforts. 
over 2 years
darwin said…

I dunno Governor Palin, you and Senator Cornyn are making waaaaaay too much sense.  I agree totally.  It is up to the people of the U.S. to let their Senators and Representatives know that we demand action now.

Energy acquisition can be accomplished very environmentally friendly with today's technology.  Radical environmentalism should be called suicidal environmentalism.  Care for our enviroment is good, death by stupidity is not.

Let's get the ball rolling.

Good job Senator ... keep up the good work Governor.  

 

over 2 years
Brent Jordan said…

Very well said!  McCain could use a Vice President who felt the same way. (Hint, hint)

over 2 years
Missy McClure said…
I guess I am odd man out.  I feel like the U.S. should be utilizing our own resources and helping our own citizens rather than contributing to another country's coffers!  However, the truth is that we are now seeing the effects of not having a comprehensive plan in place for proper development of the areas with fuel resources and for not funding research and development of alternate sources of fuel.  A plan has been proposed to accomplish both.
over 2 years
Nick Dicken said…

I am all in favor or investing time and money into alternative fueling but drilling into Alaskan wildlife is something I am against.

 

We have already cleared enough land for our energy.  More money must be spent on hydrogen and nuclear power.

 

Why do we not copy the French on this energy crisis we are having?

over 2 years
Jerry Bussamuss said…
What more incentive does our government need to lower these prices.  We have our own oil, we need to stop supporting the middle eastern countries.
over 2 years
Janet Cronin said…

I am all in favor or drilling and extracting some of our oil but we must remember to take care of the environment.

 

Too many oil companies come in and build hundreds of miles of pipelines not believing it will affect the wildlife.

over 2 years

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