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2008-08-27 Home Front Economy

Why Offshore Drilling Can Bridge Gap to U.S. Energy Future

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Posted by OldSpook 2008-08-27 15:11|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 There has been much disinformation on the entire subject of oil and gas drilling in this country. We as a nation are headed for an energy transformation that will take decades to complete. Rushing headlong into into alternative energy as the only solution would be a disaster for our economy. What is needed are a repeal of antiquated laws that are blocking oil and gas exploration. The oil and gas industry has come a long way toward safe and environmentally friendly was to extract their products. This article makes more sense than anything I've read to date as far as an energy policy for the country. Our politicians would be wise to heed the advice.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-08-27 15:18|| 2008-08-27 15:18|| Front Page Top

#2 As for an "Apollo" project for energy...

So, do we really need an Apollo project for energy? It is tempting to believe that a huge government initiative, backed by ample tax dollars, could solve this problem. But be careful what you wish for.

Yes, the moon landing was a towering achievement. But, as aerospace analyst Rand Simberg notes, it was also a "well-defined engineering challenge, and a problem susceptible to having huge bales of money thrown at it." Retooling America's energy infrastructure is far more complex. It isn't one challenge, it's thousandsa total overhaul of the American lifestyle involving deep changes in every home, vehicle and business in the country.

Anyone who believes we should put all those myriad decisions in the hands of government officials should take a close look at NASA. No, not the agile NASA of the Apollo years, but the ponderous space agency of recent decades.

After Apollo, NASA set out to build an affordable, reliable vehicle that would make space travel routine. Instead, we got the shuttle, a delicate, dangerous craft that flies infrequently and costs nearly half a billion dollars a launch. So, while NASA still accomplishes some great things, it's hardly a model of efficient, long-term problem solving.

Posted by OldSpook 2008-08-27 15:18|| 2008-08-27 15:18|| Front Page Top

#3 Part of the 'solution' is a TVA power and authority to cut through local and state NIMBYism with severe limitations on judicial interference which could be done indirectly by tagging the loser with paying for the costs of lost appeals to include 'bonding' a percentage of that growing cost prior to settlement.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-08-27 16:04|| 2008-08-27 16:04|| Front Page Top

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