Comments on: McCain Wants Offshore Drilling Ban To End

By: lurxst

lurxst — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:11:00 +0000

What seems to be missing is the point that oil companies have already got leases for thousands of square miles of US lands and coast to drill on, right now, today. Yet they aren't using approximately 80% of their already available, researched and plotted fields.

Why do they need yet more coast to drill on?

As stated in the article, the lead time for an oil field to be producing is at least a decade. This isn't about oil supply its about taking advantage of the energy price crunch to cheat US taxpayers into bargain barrel leases on what will someday be extremely valuable, and possibly necessary oil fields. I think as a nation we have an interest in not giving it away for "beads and whiskey" to international conglomerates.

By: ChrisWWW

ChrisWWW — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:01:42 +0000

Put the offshore drilling on the ballot in the states that would be affected.

By: pacatrue

pacatrue — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:21:40 +0000

I don't know all the ins and out of the issue, but I would be willing to a compromise energy policy that both opened up more offshore drilling areas and simultaneously had extremely strong conservation and sustainable energy policies. Without the second, in 2025 we are just going to be in the exact same situation we are in now, since our increased demand will use up the increased supply. It might be ideal to just have a conservation and alternative energy platform, but we don't live in an ideal world. If we can only get conservation by compromising on drilling, that might be the best we can do.

By: runasim

runasim — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:14:42 +0000

Offshore drilling is something never discussed honestly.
It's not just between environmentlists and oil interests, although that's all you hear about.

First off, there is the very bad record of non-enforcemnt when it comes to contract terms. Oil companies can't be counted on to fulfill their end of the clean up and damage repair bargain, and they stall on paying fines as well bargain fines down to pittances.

On the other side, environmentalists are often joined by seashore developers and wealthy home owners who simply don;t want the pristine view spoiled, since views affect property value as well as aesthetic experience. Because the tourist industry is also impacted, it's not all personal greed., however,

There is a real question as to how much real interest there is in offshore drilling, and about the nature of the interest. Which companies are ready to invest in the 10 year or so exploration and development stage without a guarantee of big profits? Will they expect the taxpayer to foot the bill without sharing in the profits?

Personally, I think some compromise could be possible, if all concerned were honest about their interests, contributions and responsibilities, I wish a compromise were more likely,, because we're not in a position to dismiss lightly any potential energy sources for future needs.

No matter how this turns out, the people who always get stiffed are medium to low wage earners.Their tax dollars go to government subsidies and bail outs, but they don't don't have the wherewithal to invest and share in the profits.
It's a system where the have-nots subsidize the haves, and the haves shriek in outrage when they are asked to contribute their share through appropriate taxes.

By: Rambie

Rambie — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:16:37 +0000

Simply show the fact that it takes about 7 to 10 years once they start “exploration” to actually pump oil out of new areas.

“An Energy Information Administration analysis in 2004 concluded that 'between 7 and 12 years were required from an approval to explore and develop the coastal region of ANWR until first production.'… So even assuming Congress gave the go-ahead today, the first oil wouldn't begin flowing until sometime between 2015 and 2020…” http://www.factcheck.org/gas_price_fixes_that_w...

Yes, that's ANWR but the time-line can't be too different for other areas not already explored.

By: elrod

elrod — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:23:54 +0000

The ad just writes itself. Show beautiful Florida beaches. Then show the oil spill from Exxon Valdez. Then have a narrator ask: “Is this what we want for Florida?”