OCPA 0 FaxLine Report
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OCPA 0 FaxLine Report
~ public policy infonn~tion service for members of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Inc.
Dear OCPA Member:
Thursday, August 17, 2006
With America importing 56% of the oil we currently use, energy independence looks like a pipe dream. BP's current shutdown in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay is timely because it challenges us to consider our total energy policy and what we can do to keep from sweating every time the supply of oil to our nation is threatened. A recent poll by Public Agenda indicates that half of Americans (52%) say finding new energy supplies to deal with long term problems should be a higher legislative priority than controlling rising gas prices and dealing with current shortages. The public seems to understand reducing energy dependence is of paramount importance. Gas prices have risen rapidly because demand for oil has been rising much faster than supply. With the U.S. economy growing so has the need for energy. Plus, many nations previously stuck in old world economies are suddenly becoming industrialized. China and India are just two examples. With more than a billion people each, the demand for energy in that corner of the world alone is greater than anytime in history. Part of the problem is that "environmentalists have mastered the art of energy obstructionism" according to Michael Franc, vice president of government relations at The Heritage Foundation. "There are impregnable environmental bottlenecks that have created artificial shortages of gasoline in many parts of the country, prevented the construction of new oil refineries and limited our use of the vast quantities of domestic coal." U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) says, "From ANWR to off-shore development such as Lease Area 181 in the Gulf of Mexico, we have identified oil and natural gas reserves that can be developed and used responsibly. Yet time and time again efforts to increase supply, and reduce prices, are blocked. For instance, ten years ago President Clinton vetoed development in ANWR." Craig further notes that current U.S. policy prohibits U.S. companies from developing oil fields that lie in Cuban waters and come within 50 miles of Florida. And that hasn't slowed Cuba down from contracting with the Chinese to fill the void. Craig notes, "Now, as we sit idly by, worried about development 100 miles from Florida, China is actively exploring oil fields 50 miles from Key West, Florida. U.S. companies are barred from working in this area because of U.S. policy. So, instead of allowing the most environmentally responsible companies to operate there and increase our domestic supply, China, who has a dismal environmental record, is sucking close, lucrative oil reserves dry." Imagine, if you will. It's a beautiful sunny day. You saved all year long just to pay for the gasoline for this vacation, not to mention the hotel accommodations and food. Now you are sitting back in your lounge chair under a shade umbrella and relaxing on the U.S. shoreline. You see something red flying high upon a structure on the horizon. You think it is a ship. Taking a closer look with your binoculars you realize it's a Chinese flag atop another one of those oil platforms. Until next time. .. Brett A. Magbee, Vice President for Operations If you know others who would like to receive the OCPA FaxLine Report, please let us know by contacting us at: Oklahoma Councilof PublicAffairs,Inc., 1401 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 Tel: 405-602-1667 I Fax: 405-602-1238 I Website: www.ocpathink.org OCPA is a research and educational organization promoting public policies consistent with the principles of individual liberty. free enterprise and limited government. Contributions to OCPA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Nothing written in an OCPA FaxLine Report is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the membership of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Inc., or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the Oklahoma House or Senate. United States Congress. or any other government body.
-
-
-
-
OCPA 0 FaxLine Report
~ public policy infonn~tion service for members of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Inc.
Dear OCPA Member:
Thursday, August 17, 2006
With America importing 56% of the oil we currently use, energy independence looks like a pipe dream. BP's current shutdown in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay is timely because it challenges us to consider our total energy policy and what we can do to keep from sweating every time the supply of oil to our nation is threatened. A recent poll by Public Agenda indicates that half of Americans (52%) say finding new energy supplies to deal with long term problems should be a higher legislative priority than controlling rising gas prices and dealing with current shortages. The public seems to understand reducing energy dependence is of paramount importance. Gas prices have risen rapidly because demand for oil has been rising much faster than supply. With the U.S. economy growing so has the need for energy. Plus, many nations previously stuck in old world economies are suddenly becoming industrialized. China and India are just two examples. With more than a billion people each, the demand for energy in that corner of the world alone is greater than anytime in history. Part of the problem is that "environmentalists have mastered the art of energy obstructionism" according to Michael Franc, vice president of government relations at The Heritage Foundation. "There are impregnable environmental bottlenecks that have created artificial shortages of gasoline in many parts of the country, prevented the construction of new oil refineries and limited our use of the vast quantities of domestic coal." U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) says, "From ANWR to off-shore development such as Lease Area 181 in the Gulf of Mexico, we have identified oil and natural gas reserves that can be developed and used responsibly. Yet time and time again efforts to increase supply, and reduce prices, are blocked. For instance, ten years ago President Clinton vetoed development in ANWR." Craig further notes that current U.S. policy prohibits U.S. companies from developing oil fields that lie in Cuban waters and come within 50 miles of Florida. And that hasn't slowed Cuba down from contracting with the Chinese to fill the void. Craig notes, "Now, as we sit idly by, worried about development 100 miles from Florida, China is actively exploring oil fields 50 miles from Key West, Florida. U.S. companies are barred from working in this area because of U.S. policy. So, instead of allowing the most environmentally responsible companies to operate there and increase our domestic supply, China, who has a dismal environmental record, is sucking close, lucrative oil reserves dry." Imagine, if you will. It's a beautiful sunny day. You saved all year long just to pay for the gasoline for this vacation, not to mention the hotel accommodations and food. Now you are sitting back in your lounge chair under a shade umbrella and relaxing on the U.S. shoreline. You see something red flying high upon a structure on the horizon. You think it is a ship. Taking a closer look with your binoculars you realize it's a Chinese flag atop another one of those oil platforms. Until next time. .. Brett A. Magbee, Vice President for Operations If you know others who would like to receive the OCPA FaxLine Report, please let us know by contacting us at: Oklahoma Councilof PublicAffairs,Inc., 1401 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 Tel: 405-602-1667 I Fax: 405-602-1238 I Website: www.ocpathink.org OCPA is a research and educational organization promoting public policies consistent with the principles of individual liberty. free enterprise and limited government. Contributions to OCPA are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Nothing written in an OCPA FaxLine Report is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the membership of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Inc., or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the Oklahoma House or Senate. United States Congress. or any other government body.
