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Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf

Alaska’s Offshore (A Game-Changing Energy Resource):

• At a time when the American public is crying out for more domestic energy, Alaska has enormous untapped oil and gas potential, especially in its offshore areas. The Chukchi Sea, off Alaska’s northwest coast, offers more resources than any other undeveloped U.S. energy basin, and, according to experts, may be one of the largest untapped oil and gas sources in the entire world.
• According to very conservative estimates from the federal government, the waters off Alaska’s coasts hold about 27 billion barrels of oil and 132 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
  • This is more than all the current total proven U.S. oil reserves (i.e. approximately 21 billion barrels).
  • Alaska would have 8th largest oil resources in the world – ahead of Nigeria, Libya, Russia and Norway.
  • This is more than all the current total proven U.S. oil reserves.
  • This is more proven oil reserves than Russia and Mexico process.
• A recent assessment by the US Geologic Survey concludes that about 30% of the world’s undiscovered natural gas and 13% of its oil are located above the Arctic Circle, with Alaska holding enough oil & natural gas to maintain production for “many years to come.”
• Alaska has the infrastructure and workforce needed to begin producing energy from these resource basins as soon as it is made available. But for that to happen, the federal government must take action.
• Alaska currently produces more than 13 percent of our nation’s domestic crude oil, and is behind only Texas in terms of production from offshore sources. Yet its potential has only begun to be tapped. There is so much more oil and natural gas to be reached in the state, and with new technologies, we can do it efficiently while at the same time protecting our environment.
• Alaska’s Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, along with Cook Inlet and the North Aleutian Basin, were included in that last Five-Year Program, consistent with analysis from the Interior Department showing the areas could be safely explored without inflicting undue harm on marine life or the environment.

Economic Benefits (Jobs for Alaska, Jobs for the Nation):

• There are more than 108,000 Alaskan jobs tied to the discovery, production, and shipment of Alaskan oil and natural gas – accounting for more than 15 percent of Alaska’s population.
• Last February, a lease sale on tracts in the Chukchi netted taxpayers more than $2.6 billion in bonus bids. It was quite a take – especially since MMS expected to only receive $67 million before the auction took place.
• A recent study by University of Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research University and Northern Economics found that new offshore energy production in the State of Alaska would produce:
  • An annual average of 35,000 jobs over the next 50 years for the state of Alaska alone, with a total payroll of $72 billion (2007$) over the 50-year period
  • OCS development could also be an important factor in reducing risks for the proposed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to Lower 48 markets
  • Offshore development would play a vital role is keeping the Trans Alaskan Pipeline System (TAPS) flowing, a critical link to America’s energy distribution
• New offshore oil & gas development in Alaska will generate thousands of new, high-paying jobs throughout the 50 states, from steel & pipe manufacturers in the Midwest to shipping on the coasts to advanced computer technology in California and Seattle, to Union Labor for pipeline construction and maintenance.

Despite Promise of Alaska Energy, We Still Can’t Access the Resource:

• Since 2005, 680 leases have been awarded to companies interested in exploring for oil & gas off the Alaska coasts. Despite years of applications for permits, community consultation, environmental studies and analysis, and over $3 billion in bonus payments to the federal government and investment in technology, equipment and personnel, not one well has been drilled in the Alaska OCS.
  • The leases were sold ONLY after an exhaustive environmental analysis.
  • When the federal government awards a lease, it has an obligation to process the permits and allow the company to move forward with potential development.
• Why?
  • The current regulatory system is overly complex and has failed to issue the permits required for Alaska offshore operations.
  • Lawsuits filed against the government on various technicalities regarding offshore exploration have kept offshore development, jobs and economic opportunity bottled-up in courts, preventing operations from moving forward (one court, for example has not rendered a decision in almost 2 years).
• Bottom Line:
  • The current regulatory and judicial structure are preventing America’s ability to access and develop some of its most promising natural resources at a time when America needs jobs, economic growth and reduced dependency on foreign energy sources.

What Can Be Done to Help?

• Help create jobs, improve the current economic situation and build an effective national energy policy by reforming the regulatory permitting system to ensure that federal agencies share resources, work cooperatively on environmental studies and develop a common structure for permit application and review.
  • Pass Congressional legislation that recognize advancements in technology and make permitting for exploration and development consistent and easier.
  • When the government issues a lease, it should have the desire to ensure that lease receives the appropriate permits in a timely manner and any court challenges are vigorously defended.
• Pass Congressional legislation requiring federal courts to render timely decisions on energy projects.
• Enact Congressional legislation granting Alaska citizens and local communities the same monetary benefits of offshore oil and gas production that the citizens of the Gulf Coast enjoy.
• Produce a robust and timely Five-Year Program for Offshore development.

Action Needed:
Join us in our effort as we build public support for offshore oil and natural gas development in Alaska. To get involved and ensure our voices are heard, tell President Obama today that you support keeping the 2007-2012 Five-Year Program Intact. Please feel free to use our sample text as seen below.

Send the letter of support now!

Response to T. Boone Pickens – Pickens Plan

T. Boone Pickens is an oil man who has turned his attention to wind energy. So instead of making all his millions of dollars on oil, he is now going to add to those millions with more money from his (federally subsidized by you and me) wind mills. I am all for free enterprise, so he should be able to make as much money legally as he can, but does he really need yours and my money to succeed?

Additionally, his commercials are misleading. Although he says drill, drill, drill (and we agree), he also says buying foreign oil will be the biggest transfer of wealth in the history of the world. of all people, he should know that this is NOT a TRANSFER of wealth, but an EXCHANGE of wealth. We are exchanging dollars for oil. Simple as that.

A TRANSFER of wealth would be if we were sending money to other countries and getting nothing in return (similar to taxing the wealthy who produce jobs, goods and services and turn that money over to help those who do not produce and demanding nothing for it).

Boone is a smart man and is buttering both sides of his bread by meeting with both political parties and getting them on board. Pelosi an Obama have accepted the wind portion of his proposal, but do not agree with the drilling portion (though Boone says they are listening). However, Pelosi wants natural gas which also comes from drilling… Not sure how she thinks that is going to happen… McCain says he is on board but will not drill in ANWR where there IS oil… Get it?

Until they come around and agree to ALL PARTS of T. Boone Pickens Plan, they are not going to solve diddley squat. Don’t doubt me!

FedUpEditor

Boxer Doesn’t Get It! Surprised?

From a “canned” letter to her contituents dated 8/28/08:

Thank you for contacting me regarding high gasoline prices. I appreciate the opportunity to hear your views on this important issue, and I share your concerns.

Gasoline prices reached an all-time high this year, and costs for food and other basic necessities are rising drastically. As millions of Americans struggle under this increasing burden, oil companies continue to report massive, record-breaking profits – $123 billion last year alone. This is unacceptable, and I want to assure you that I am working hard to lower prices and protect Americans from price gouging.

I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of S.3044, the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008. This important bill would impose a windfall profits tax on oil companies to discourage price gouging and to help consumers offset the high costs of energy products, punish any country or company colluding in setting the price of oil, and limit excessive speculation in oil markets. Unfortunately, the Senate minority has blocked further consideration of S.3044. [So let us get this straight. You are going to punish the same people who are bring us oil by imposing a windfall profits tax on them? First of all, it has been shown that there are NO WINDFALL PROFITS in the first place which is why your stupid bill failed. Corporations pass increases in costs including taxes to their consumers anyway. They need to make profit to stay in business and pay their people. Are they not entitled to do that? Afterall, nobody is trying to set a price control on the Senate's pay scale! - FedUpEditor]

In addition, I strongly support S.3268, the Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008. This vital legislation would help to lower energy prices by increasing regulation of energy futures trading and eliminating excessive speculation. S.3268 would provide more staff, resources, and authority for the Commodities Future Trading Commission, the agency charged with regulating commodity futures. This bill is currently being considered by the full Senate. [Once again, speculators are not the problem. Tey are only betting that losers like you will not increase domestic production. As is evidenced by the FREE MARKET, prices have come down recently for both oil and gasoline! - FedUpEditor]

At a time when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet and having to make the impossible choice between buying food for their families and filling up the gas tank, it is crucial that we pass both S.3044 and S.3268. [NO, NO, NO! - FedUpEditor]

Opening up drilling in the United States is not the best way to achieve lower gas prices. For example, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) would provide us with six months of oil at most, and at great cost. Furthermore, it would be more than a decade before we saw any of that oil. Ultimately, we need to move away from our dependence on oil and gasoline by developing renewable and efficient energy technologies. Right now, we need to go after the big oil companies that are holding Americans hostage with their exorbitantly high prices. [At whose great cost? Not yours. Oil companies will make that decision and have decided there is a HUGE reserve in ANWR and would produce over 700 BILLION barrels of oil! - FedUpEditor]

Americans deserve better than oil companies that gouge consumers in order to make huge profits, and Congress needs to take action to help alleviate this crisis. Rest assured, I will continue working for the passage of S.3044 and S.3268, and I will keep fighting to help Americans enjoy fair and reasonable energy prices. [Blah, blah, blah, blah. We say check her portfolio for wind and solar energy stocks! - FedUpEditor]

ANWR Drilling

American Conservative Union – “We Own It – Let’s Use It”

July 8, 2008 – ACU: The American people own ANWR and we should drill for more energy there NOW.

In 1867, the United States government signed a treaty to purchase Alaska. 

We handed over precious gold to Russia for the territory.  At the time Senator Charles Sumner, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that if the United States purchased Alaska, “A practical race of intrepid navigators will swarm the coast ready for any enterprise of business or patriotism. Commerce will find new arms…” 

But today, the liberal leadership in the United States Congress have shut off Alaska from the commerce that would help end our dependence on foreign oil.

They have promoted and pursued a policy of shutting off and locking up Alaska from the people who purchased it.  They have locked up our energy and forced us to pay higher fuel prices at the pump and keep a dependence on foreign oil rather than using the land and resources we already own.

When it comes to ANWR, we own it and we should use it.  That is why ACU has launched a petition drive to say, “We Own It – Let’s Use It.  Drill in ANWR.”

I am sure you have taken time on the  4th of July, like me, to see some fireworks or to visit friends and family.  In many cases, you drove a distance to get to your destination.  It is sad that on Independence Day we would have to put higher priced foreign fuel in our tank.

Help fight back: Add Your Name To Our “We Own It – Let’s Use It” ANWR Petition And Support ACU Today

Yes to Solar, but No to Drilling?

We support all forms of energy generation to help our independence. Besides the fact that it will make us stronger as a nation and take money out of the pockets of radical dictators in other countries, it will also provide jobs for our economy and help spur growth. Unfortunately, some people see it as “my way or the highway”. Take Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for example, who wants to cover our nations’ desert with solar panels, but does not support wind generation off the shore (though it wouldn’t be seen) from his family’s compound in New England, nor does he suppor the small foot print of ANWR (a place I would bet he’s never been).

The Heritage Foundation has a great article from July 2, 2008:

When companies want to drill or even just explore for valuable minerals and resources, the industry is destroying valuable American soil. On the other hand, when solar panels are proposed to cover the earth, it’s simply considered barren, worthless desert. At least that’s the logic coming from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., senior attorney for the National Resource Defense Counsel. He said on Monday on Larry King Live:

“We have the Scientific American just published a report that shows in 19 percent of the most barren desert lands in the desert Southwest, we have enough solar energy to provide all the electrical needs of our country. What we need now is a national policy that says, OK, let’s go out and get those electrons and get them into the marketplace.”

Fair enough. But shouldn’t the same rules apply to oil, uranium and other strategic mineral exploration? The science and technology used to explore and drill is done in an environmentally friendly way; and the proposed exploration area of ANWR is a perfect example of the barren land Kennedy mentioned. Take a look at some very telling pictures here.

So let me get this straight. Barren lands are good enough for solor, but not good enough for oil??? Someone explain that one to me!

Read the rest of this article here.

Internet E-mail about ANWR

ANWR is the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Democrats oppose drilling there because it is a pristine wilderness that we need to protect. Oh, really? What this e-mail points out is the truth about where the drilling will actually be and the truth about the area including maps and pictures.

We tried to verify this on SNOPES but were not able to find any mention of it, so we present it here without vouching for its accuracy.

FIRST – do you know what ANWR is? ANWR = Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now a comparison

Now some perspective:

NOTE WHERE THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AREA IS. It’s in the ANWR Coastal Plain.  THESE ARE PICTURES OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATS, LIBERALS AND GREENS SHOW YOU WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ANWR and they are right, these ARE photographs of ANWR.

 

WELL THAT’S NOT EXACTLY THE TRUTH. Do you remember the map? The map showed that the proposed drilling area is in the ANWR Coastal Plain. Do those photographs look like a coastal plain to you? WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE, THAT IS NOT WHERE THEY ARE WANTING TO DRILL! BELOW IS WHAT THE PROPOSED EXPLORATION AREA ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN THE WINTER.

AND THIS IS WHAT IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IN THE SUMMER.

HERE IS A SCREEN SHOT FROM GOOGLE EARTH.

OH! AND THEY SAY THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFECT ON THE LOCAL WILDLIFE. HERE IS A PHOTO (SHOT DURING THE SUMMER) OF THE DEPLETED WILDLIFE SITUATION CREATED BY DRILLING AROUND PRUDHOE BAY. DON’T YOU THINK THAT THE CARIBOU REALLY HATE THAT DRILLING?

There’s plenty more to this e-mail, but we think you get the idea.

 

 

Telling the truth about high gas prices

As our initial attack on the enemies of lower gas prices becomes successful, we will begin to branch out to other areas that we feel are out of control. But for now, we are focusing on high gas prices and ways to get them to come down.

Most economists believe that supply and demand affect prices. So the more there is of something the less it will cost. When plasma TVs were a new thing there were very few of them produced and the prices were astronomical. But once everyone got into the act of producing them and new technology was developed along with finding places where it was cheaper to build them, prices started to drop. Everyday, their cost is lower than it was the day before because they are now in such great supply.

Ten years ago, Bill Clinton had a chance to open up drilling in ANWR and decided to declare an executive order to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge which made it off limits to oil exploration. Ten years later, a representative said that even if we started drilling now, it would take ten years before we would start seeing the effects… Kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Opponents of drilling say the small amount would hardly make a difference. So what, then we do nothing? Some’s still better than none.

I have to admit. Several years ago I knew very little about ANWR so early this year I went to their website managed by the US Fish and Wildlife service to find a contact and get some answers. What I learned was eye opening. The fact is that visitor numbers over the past 20 years have remained relatively stable at about 1200-1500 visitors a year, mostly hunters, fishermen and recreational (?) visitors. We’re talking about an area that is about 19 MILLION acres deemed off limits to human development. Fox News reported in 2005 when Congress was proposing to drill there:

Some perspective is helpful to understand the ecological insignificance of ANWR drilling. ANWR comprises 19 million acres in Northeast Alaska, 17.5 million of which are totally off-limits to drilling or any other kind of economic activity. This is why the news footage showing beautiful snowcapped mountains is misleading, because the drilling would not be allowed anywhere near those areas.

Only the flat and featureless coastal plain would be affected, and even there only a small portion of its 1.5 million acres. The current version of the bill limits the surface disturbance to 2,000 acres, a small piece of a big coastal plain in a very big wildlife refuge in the biggest state in the Union.

So the fact is that we have been lied to by people with an agenda. Why would anyone want to do this? You can come to your own conclusions, but drilling would bring jobs to the US, particularly Alaska (a state that needs them!). That’s a good thing, right? On the positive side of the ledger put DOMESTIC JOB CREATION.

We could get 10 billion barrels of oil, and as we pointed out above, increased supply will lower gas prices. On the positive side of the ledger put LOWER GAS PRICES.

By drilling for our own oil, we would not be held hostage by an anti-US middle east (OPEC) that increases and decreases its oil production at will to manipulate the oil prices. On the positive side of the ledger put ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

Opponents say, “we shouldn’t be using gas at all and find alternative sources.” How’s that working for ethanol? Thanks to this horrible policy of using food to create fuel to use in automobiles, there are now grain shortages which are causing food prices to quickly rise. So not only can we no longer afford to drive to the supermarket, but we can’t afford to buy food once we do get there! And I don’t know about you, but I look around and all the automobiles and trucks I see still use the internal combustion engine. That means petroleum… and LOTS OF IT!

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