Rhetoric VS. Reality
Policy-makers are talking a lot about energy and energy policy. What fallows are some of the most frequently heard claims and proposals, along with realities that need to be considered when evaluating these claims.
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Access to Energy
Increasing access to domestic sources of oil and natural gas is vital to putting our nation on the road to economic recovery and to meeting the energy needs of American consumers.
On March 31, 2010, President Obama announced his intention to expand offshore drilling in certain areas along the Atlantic coast, in a portion of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and off the coast of Alaska. This is a positive development, as increased access to domestic resources means more jobs, more revenues to help cash-strapped local, state and federal governments, and greater energy security for our nation. With our ailing economy, now is the time to the develop America’s domestic oil and natural gas resources. A recent ICF International study shows that more access to domestic energy resources could generate between $1.3 trillion and $1.7 trillion in government revenue, create thousands of new jobs and enhance America’s energy security by significantly boosting energy production. Take your pick of national polls, and chances are you will find numbers that show Americans calling for more energy exploration, onshore and offshore, here at home. A recent Rasmussen poll shows that 72 percent of registered voters favor offshore drilling. It is clear that Americans want policies that will allow U.S. companies to develop oil and natural gas resources here in the United States. Lawmakers should know this can all be achieved in harmony with the environment. Since 1980, less than 0.001 percent of oil has been spilled from daily production, far less than the amount released into the ocean from natural seepage. Through the industry’s advanced technology, offshore drilling is able to coexist in the ocean. The administration and Congress should listen to the American people, and create the energy policy this nation needs.
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