Block Offshore Drilling

As an argument for opening the coast of the continental United States for oil extraction, pressures to lower prices on gasoline at the pumps seems low energy.

If we are to manage our energy resources while we become more acutely aware of the importance we place on energy to maintain our comfortable lifestyles, we can attenuate our demand for carbon fuels while supplementing our energy supply from an ever-expanding renewable energy field.

There is no need for off-shore drilling at this time. We have producing oil fields currently in operation throughout the South Midwest to Southwest. If we focus our extraction efforts on existing wells, then prices for crude oil and gas can be maintained. The revenue stream generated by charging consumers of the energy produced from these resources a metered fee for use could be used to finance development of advanced off-shore drilling rigs.

If more oil is pumped than can be accomodated by the refineries, and consumed by the inhabitants of the world, where is it stored? Pity the resident of the small oil-rich nation where there's always an oil field and storage tanks nearby. Block off-shore drilling for now - we might as well keep that oil reserve safe and sound and stored in the ground than risk dragging it up here to the surface only to be burned up into our atmosphere or poured out into our seas.

Once we have depleted our oil resources on land AND proven that we can do so without inflicting significant harm to the land and its flora and fauna, we will be ready to develop the technologies that we have perfected in the laboratory and select field sites while responsibly harvesting resources from areas of dry land.