So Much for Saving the Planet
By Jessica Hillyard - Aug 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
On Saturday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined the Democratic congressional leadership’s new approach toward energy. On the Democrats’ weekly radio address Sunday morning, Pelosi previewed an energy bill which includes plans for offshore oil drilling, among other things.
The plan, which was adapted from that of the Senate’s bipartisan Gang of Ten, gives coastal states the option to authorize drilling off their shores–with the exceptions of California and Florida’s eastern coast. There was no mention of the much-contested oil-rich Alaska National Wildlife Refuge; however, the Democrats’ plan would expand current drilling operations in Alaska.
Way to hold your ground, Dems. Although it is rather pessimistic of me, I have to say that I honestly do not expect the U.S. energy outlook to get better until it gets worse (but that’s not to say that we shouldn’t try to prevent it from worsening). Americans are livid about gas prices, and I’m willing to bet the majority of drivers don’t care where their gas comes from as long as they can fill their tanks without taking out a second mortgage. Such is the state of public demand for oil. And with the relentless pressure from Republicans and the American polity alike, I sincerely believe any known oil reserve, regardless of how much oil it holds, will be tapped before alternative energy sources are fully within the realm of the possible.
Image via Creative Commons user bitzcelt.
This would suggest that the Dems’ previous opposition was elitist.
It will take several years for new drilling projects to go online, so the public may be in for a surprise that this won’t guarantee immediate relief.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm