The year is 2006, with tech the way it is why not drill in Alaska for oil? It can be done earth friendly.?

Question

We know it is a tremendous untapped reserve lets get at it. With today's technology we could do it in such a way as to protect the environment. We have all the necessary resources, money, natural, manufacturing, intelligents, research, lets go for it.

Answer 1

You answer your own question. And, I agree with you.

To clarify, we already drill a ton of oil in Alaska. The southern part of the State accounts for the largest oil fields in the U.S.

You are talking about the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) that is constantly under debate. Congress earmarked part of the ANWR for oil exploration back in the 70s. But, a couple of decades later, Congress decided to rescind on the open for oil exploration status of this small section of the ANWR.

Emotional issues have taken over this debate that often have little to do with the environment. Big oil are the big bad guys in the public eye. The ANWR dispute has become a huge fund raising cause and raison d'etre for many environmental groups.

The odd thing is that the vast majority of Alaskan politicians (governors, senators, congresspersons, etc...) have steadily been in favor of opening up the ANWR for exploration. And, so has the Alaskan public. Yet, they have not had the right to reap the resources from their land as they see fit. That's strange, don't you think?

Answer 2

It is a tremendous untapped reserve, maybe. There are no definite estimates of ANWR's size nor how long it will last. The question of cost aside, there is the more important question of timing. It will take over 5 years to get a single drop of additional oil from this area, so any benefits are going to be delayed, so as a short term solution it is limited.

Answer 3

It's 2006, We have all the necessary resources, money, natural, manufacturing, intelligents, research, lets go for.....using alternative fuel sources! Let's stop relying on 3rd world countries and putting money into the oil-driven friends and family of the Bush administration. It IS 2006.....we should be moving forth to heighten U.S. pride in being the leading example for self-suffiency and environmental protection.

Answer 4

It may be able to be done earth friendly, (well at least more earth friendly), but will they actually do it that way? Probably not. It takes more research and time and it is more expensive. Why not take that time and research and money and divert energy use to more sustainable methods, such as wind power or solar power?

Answer 5

fossil fuel is a non renewable resource. why use that money to drill in alaska knowing all the consequences when we could use it to fund research for an alternative.
but don't worry, bush will want to drill in alaska eventually, he's been after that for a long time.