Why do people think environmentalist groups are preventing oil exploration?

Question

I'm not an environmentalist. In fact, I take giant craps in level 1 trout streams.

I think I am pretty lucky that "rabid environmentalists" are protecting oil exploration in the states. I'm not sure where I am going with this... it seems like a lot of people are parroting the environmentalists are keeping the gas prices high.

I'd like to know how, honestly. Strict environmental regulations = good. I'm guessing having a limited commodity that people have an insatiable need for based on dwindling refinery capacity probably has a larger role. Not to mention an increase in supply would cut into profit margins at least temporarily.

Anyways, please share.

ANWR drilling would offer 10 billion barrels of oil, and we use 22 million per day alone, but the oil wouldn't only go to us. Even if it did, that's 454 days of oil for a ridiculous amount of drilling cost.

i like dr schmoo's and the first part of scott b's answer. I will have to look into additives. HAHA. oil companies are not being prevented building refineries, they have enough lobby.

ok good answer killer.

Answer 1

Because they are. And they are also preventing the building of refineries. These NIMBY folk who claim to care about the environment, really just don't want the refineries in their locale.

If you do not believe the rabid environmentalists have the power to shut down the economy, take a look at what is happening in SW Florida. A small bird is shutting down miles of real estate.

Answer 2

Just go and try and get a permit to build new refineries and see what happens. Minimum it would take 5 and up to 10 years to get it done. Mainly because of all the environmental restrictions that are in place. I like the analogy about the diamonds. Oil is controlled somewhat like the diamonds. The problem is that it is controlled by the wrong people. That is why we need to allow American companies to drill in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico among other places so we control the majority or all of the oil that we are using. Since we are getting the majority of the oil from somewhere else we are at the mercy of our suppliers. They have us right by the nuts I guess you could say. The oil companies would love to drill more oil here and build more refineries. The problem is that it is a 20 year investment, meaning that it would take 20 years before the refinery would pay for itself. That is my two cents.

Answer 3

REASONABLE environmentalism is a good thing, but what you need to think of while you are amusing the fish in that trout stream is: there is a huge difference between serious environmental science and the circus clown show that is going on right now. There are ways to drill for oil safely, and there are ways to encourage thriftiness when using resources but neither of these will happen when you have Hollywood morons awarding each other Carbon Indulgences and politicizing science. The climate doesnt give a damn about what useless accord we sign or who is in the White House.
SInce the extremists and clowns have gotten ahold of the environmental movement, they have made it so difficult to build any new power stations or refineries that nobody has bothered to do so for the last twenty years. The environwackos are not the only thing making gasoline expensive, but they are one of the larger causes of it.
PS, when you are crapping on your trout, make sure you wipe!

Answer 4

Thinking people know that it is not the environmentalists, but the industry controlling oil exploration and refinery production.

If the industry really needed the oil, they would lubricate the wallets of Congress to get what they wanted, same goes with building new refineries.

If there was a glut of gasoline on the market, Exxon-Mobile would not be posting multi-billion dollar quarterly profits.

Answer 5

Because they are. Our country allows small radical groups to dictate to the rest of us. Prayer in school etc. I try to take care of the environment and it bothers me to see land bulldozed to make malls. At the same time we shouldn't allow the Mideast dictate our fuel prices, although I don't know how much of that I believe. If oil companies are being truthful, let them drill and build more refineries, and hold them to the statement that it will reduce prices. I really believe that if happens, they will come up with another BS excuse to raise prices. If they do that let the government take them over. Oh no, here comes the thumbs downs! By the way, teh next time you take a giant crap in your trout stream I hope a cotton mouth bites you in the @ss.

Answer 6

the environmental groups do not prevent oil exploration; they prevent the actual drilling and refining of the oil. While the oil companies do have a strong lobby in Washington, the environmentalists have an even stronger one, in addition to the laws and policies that they have been able to get enacted over previous years. One common misconception is that the prices of oil and gas are based upon the current supply. In actuality, the price of POL is based upon FUTURE supply.

Answer 7

1) There are additives in our gasoline which are supposed to help the environment that add to the overall price at the pump. It is debatable whether or not they do what they are intended and they were pushed by several environmental groups. 2) Environmentalists are responsible for a lack of drilling in places like Alaska which is oil rich, sometimes to protect a single remote species of insect. If people want cheaper oil, we need to rely less on forgeign oil and concentrate on finding more oil on our property.

Answer 8

I'm (almost) of the opinion enviros want us all to go back living in caves and hunting for what we eat.

They have effectivly blocked Hydro-Electric and Nuclear power plants from being built. They don't want CO2 produced so let's not burn anything. Solar cells and wind powered generators sound great. But they are expensive! And the sun doesn't shine all day and the wind doesn't blow the same all the time. Fueling with biomass will drive the cost of everything you eat way up. Not to mention you can't replace all the petro products we use with biomass.

My wife says if YOU think "saving" the environment is a good idea. YOU go live in a cave.

Answer 9

The fact is, we don't need more oil, we need more and better refineries. There is plenty of oil to go around. Like diamonds, the supply of oil is controlled to keep the price up. Oil companies would rather keep their profits rather than reinvest it into greater refinery capacity.

Oil and gas production needs to be socialized, but since they run the government, it will never happen.

Answer 10

I don't think that. I think that if the oil companies wanted new refineries built they would get built. I can't believe people dont get this. They have a powerful lobby, the President, and the VP are oilmen, yet its the environmentalists. The oil companies don't give a crap about people, they just want to make money.