reducing consumption.
ANWR is not a very large oil field and could only supply the US for a very short time.
Oh, and oil companies can build new refineries whenever they want. But they don't want to because it would create a glut of gasoline on the market. Already, Americans are cutting back and gasoline inventories (at existing refineries) is high.Which would be more likely to bring down gas prices? Drilling in ANWAR, or reducing oil consumption?
Another thing that would help is if the Federal and State Governements would lower the taxes on gas...I read a study a few weeks ago that stated that $.75 of each gallon is taxes...it is probably a lot more now...Congress is not going to do anything to lower prices because they are making almost as much money as the oil companies...and they, mostly Democrats, are using that money to fund their social projects...(Can't post study, don't remember where I read it...)
All three you mentioned would help to bring down gas prices, and not only drilling in ANWAR but several off shore locations too.
As to the refinery issue, congress and the environmental lobbyist have put so many obstacles in the way it is almost cost prohibitive to design, build and operate new refineries.
Reducing consumption would really help because the demand continues to be higher than inventory and demand continues to increase almost by the day.
I live in the Kansas City, Mo., area and for the eight years I have lived here, the city and residents have rejected light rail as a mode of public transportation.
Here in the center of the nation, a predominately Democratic city/area continues to reject light rail when a couple of great plans have been proposed. I will not take the time to list all of the potential benefits of light rail in the area.
Isn't it interesting though, the Democrats are the primary sources of resistance to:
1) Drilling for oil
2) Building new refineries
3) Creating light rail in viable areas.
Yet invariably people bash President Bush and blame him for rising gas prices. At some point in time we as a nation will have to face the truth and take action.
ANWAR should remain untouched and even if they did drill there it would do little to reduce costs since it is very expensive to drill in Alaska and it is not that big of a field. Building more refineries is a good idea but has issues in the immediate huge cost outlays. Lowering consumption would be the best and more immediate solution.
reducing consumption.
You dont really think that in one of the countries where its more expensive to produce just about anything when compared with the middle eastern nations, that we would be able to drill and produce our own fuel and sell it cheaper than the going rate currently, do you?
They would charge at least 98% of the price we are currently paying, if not more, so its not like we would get any monetary relief from the current prices.
I'd agree with all three.
Reducing oil consumption. It is not economically feasible to drill ANWR. That gives us crude oil, but it still has to be refined. There is only enough oil there to give us at the MOST two years' worth of oil. It would take 2 years to get the infrastructure up and running, only to give us 2 years of oil. Not worth it. Even if we drilled all the oil in the world, eventually it will be gone. It is not an infinite source. Why not concentrate our efforts on developing naturally renewing energy sources such as solar and wind?
Both.
i think America needs a comprehensive energy policy and I suggest that policy should be to reduce dependence on foreign imports by 50% per decade.
that'll require more drilling, mining coal, and building nuclear power plants -- the simple truth is that no alternative energy source is available in significant volume at a realistic cost.
but then, i regularly doubt that the greens' agenda has anything to do with allowing people to improve their lifestyles and is more about exerting control over others than anything else.
There is something logical and sane we could do for immediate relief to lower gasoline prices and expand supplies. Mandate just one formulation of gasoline instead of 43 various blends for different regions.
Like you I am also an independent with conservative/libertarian tendencies and I agree with your observation. What people don't realize is that the price of fuel is so high, not because of big oil companies making a profit, but because of the taxes which are levied on our fuel by our own government officials and because the value of our dollar is dropping. If the value of our dollar drops by fifty percent, that means that the price of oil has just doubled. I don't understand why people find this concept hard to grasp. This is why we must get out of debt and stop the out of control spending. To people who are rich, the dropping value of the dollar is not as harmful. Many people who are rich do not save money by placing it in a bank where it can lose value. They invest it in foreign companies and items like gold where the value is going to increase or stay the same. The little people are the ones who are really going to be hurt by inflation. Then we have our government officials who tax the hell out of energy companies in an effort to get them to research and develop new clean sources of energy. How can they see that they are not hurting the oil company. Again the little people are going to be the ones hurting because the cost of the tax is passed on to them at the pump. Instead of taxing these energy companies, why not offer them incentives to develop new clean energy sources. We all know that profits are what motive people in business. I mean what is the point of owning your own business unless it is to make money. If these energy companies think that they can make a better profit by developing clean energy, I promise you that they will do it. Until that new energy source can be developed, our government needs to approve new refineries and open up drilling in areas which were previously off limits, because we are totally unable to reduce our energy consumption to the point where it would make a noticeable difference. As long as restrictions are placed on the oil companies which specify that they must leave the area as they found it when they are done and that they must keep destruction of nature to a minimum, I don't see what it hurts? I know we have to do something and soon because we are facing issues, which if they all hit at once, could seriously damage us as a nation. I can see it coming from so far away and it makes me wonder if other people are blind.
FOR THE MILLIONTH TIME - drilling in ANWAR will be a drop in the bucket.
Literally.
And does NOT justify the destruction of one of the LAST pristine spots on the face of the Earth.
One day - and all of us may indeed be DEAD by that day - but one day humans will realize that our silly wants and insane consumption and rampant destruction cannot go on indefinitely with no ';paying the piper.';
We're supposed to be the species with the big brain, you know.
THE ANSWER IS REDUCED CONSUMPTION AND FINDING A SOURCE OTHER THAN OIL.
End of discussion.
The difference is people have been talking about reducing oil consumption since 1972. I would also like to get adopted by anjelina jolie. We all have big dreams.
I agree with you 100%.
Next trick is to make it happen .
Which isn't likely
If we do not increase the supply of gas then we will continue to see the price rise .
Simple fact is each year prices go up . Its how they drain the bank accounts of the elderly so they have nothing to pass down to their kids .
Imagine having something to build off of rather then starting off with nothing all the time as so many people have to .
While the rich get even richer the fact is the poor get even poorer .
There is only so much to go around and when one person has 1000 times more then the rest of us it has an effect on all of us .
Reducing consumption sounds good, but is not realistic. Oil is used for a lot more than just fuel. Even toothbrushes and toothpaste had some amount of oil used in their creation.
We have another issue though. Drilling for new oil takes time, as in years. That's why it needed to be done years ago not now. Even if it isn't enough to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, it would at least stabilize the price a bit.
Reducing consumption would only work if it were drastic and long lasting. The question is how much of the imported oil goes towards vehicle fuel. I suspect it may be around 50% of a barrel, which means any vehicle-related conservation is only half as effective. If you cut driving by 10%, it's only reducing our oil usage by 5%.
reducing fuel consumption is the fastest and most effective way to reduce fuel cost. It would also make the biggest statement to the oil companies that we the people are demanding change.... When corporations feel it in their pocket books... change happens.
I agree completely. Since our (and the worlds) economy currently survives on oil, we need to bring more in to stablize the prices.
Reducing oil consumption is the only way. There isn't enough oil in ANWR to put a dent in our demand.
Sources: EIA
The report, issued by the Energy Information Administration, or EIA, said that if Congress gave the go-ahead to pump oil from Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the crude could begin flowing by 2013 and reach a peak of 876,000 barrels a day by 2025.
But even at peak production, the EIA analysis said, the United States would still have to import two-thirds of its oil, as opposed to an expected 70 percent if the refuge’s oil remained off the market.
...
James Kendell, one of the authors of the study, said the refuge would add to domestic production, but “when you’re talking of a world oil market of over 75 million barrels a day, adding 900,000 barrels by 2025 is a drop in the bucket.”
Lies lies lies....Anwar would be paid for by those big oil profits that liberals hate, but are using as a defense here. Drill ANWR, Drill Florida, Drill Texas, Drill California, Drill Oklahoma, Drill New Mexico...why limit it to ANWR. Oil is the life blood of the World. We don't have to even use what we drill for ourselves. The Chinese are buying it up left and right. We could pay them off in oil, and do two things. Boost the economy, including making the dollar worth more, and reduce the price of fuel. But ohhhhh the poor caribou whines the lib.
drill off calif. texas, anwar and where ever else.
more refineries.
less gas tax.
eliminate blended gas or designer gas.
improve cafe standards if possible.
research alternative fuels which are feasible.
Reducing consumption. I am not for drilling in ANWAR.
I agree with you. Surprisingly, it might also help if the U.S. government simply made a move in this direction. If President Bush were to come on TV and state that America is going to take aggressive action to limit or eliminate our dependence on middle eastern oil, I have a feeling the price would drop dramatically over night. When you're the only game in town, you set the price. When it looks as though one of your biggest customers is taking measure so as not to need you any more, you do anything to make it worth their while to stick with you.
Only problem is, many don't know the difference between a bluff and the real thing (Remember the 'I don't care about bin Ladin'? There are many who continue to believe that he meant that and didn't see it for what it was, a ruse.) and there are many who would hold him to his commitment.
The refiners are the ones in trouble and that is why gas prices are going to soar. They make about $6 a barrel and that isn't enough to keep up operations. The reason their profit margins are in the negative is because our gas consumption went down. I guess people are starting to get the message. They just need to keep going and continue to ween themselves off of gas and then we won't be so dependent on oil. Drilling in ANWAR will only give more gas to the Chinese and do nothing for prices here. Just take the bus or ride a bike.
Both!
We need conservation, but we also need to utilize all of our natural resources!
1) Yes...we need more refining capacity...NOW
2) We need to get the Arab oil states to cooperate! (look what we have done for them in blood and treasure, those bastards need to reciprocate!)
3) We need anwar, and drilling leases off our coasts ASAP.
4) Biofuels are viable with the high price of petroleum....(but the price of food is going through the roof because of all the corn going to ethanol..we need to ease-up on that for now)
5) We need to use more nuclear power It saves the environment and fossil fuels for transportation and industry.
We have more coal than they have oil too.
6) Women going to Longs drugs to catch that sale on fingernail polish do NOT need a Hummer-tank to get there! Place strick limits on SUV milage
the problem is , even if we and Europe reduce or usage, India and china are increasing, so the demand is still there, and the tree hugger like ALF and ELF and all those terrorist groups would make life miserable domestic terrorist need to be helped accountable for also including those that support them, obama , and Peta come to mind
Drill, we Americans love our gas..can't see us cutting back enough to make a difference. We are building (1) new refinery. Several years before its complete..
I agree it does not have to be an 'either or' it should be all of the above.
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