Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Robert Churchill Answers Chicago Tribune Question 2 - Energy
8th district Republican congressional candidate Robert Churchill answers the Chicago Tribune's second question below.
2. Oil, gasoline and natural gas prices increased last year, largely because of higher demand around the world and supply disruptions at home. Congress is likely to consider energy legislation next year, with a debate on how to increase supply and conserve resources. Please give us your ideas.
Allow drilling in ANWR. If Alaska is the size of a football field, then ANWR is the size of a briefcase lying on the field, and the proposed drilling area is the size of a postage stamp. We must be prepared for the future when the world supply of oil begins to decrease. Current law also prevents the exploration for oil in many other areas: eastern Gulf of Mexico, outer continental shelf, and in the Rocky Mountains. Restrictive leases for drilling on government owned land also must be reviewed.
Currently, converting the existing oil to gasoline is a major problem. We have not built a new refinery in this country in decades. When we abandon a large military base in a remote location we should build a new refinery in that area. Modern technology can build a clean, efficient refinery, and the obstacles that are preventing this from happening must be removed.
As a society we consume energy with little regard to the detrimental effect this is having on the world around us. We must learn to conserve energy in our daily lives. Such societal changes are not often solved by more legislation. Smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles that use alternative fuels, weatherization of residential and commercial buildings and increased use of public transportation all are examples of changes that can and should be implemented.
2. Oil, gasoline and natural gas prices increased last year, largely because of higher demand around the world and supply disruptions at home. Congress is likely to consider energy legislation next year, with a debate on how to increase supply and conserve resources. Please give us your ideas.
Allow drilling in ANWR. If Alaska is the size of a football field, then ANWR is the size of a briefcase lying on the field, and the proposed drilling area is the size of a postage stamp. We must be prepared for the future when the world supply of oil begins to decrease. Current law also prevents the exploration for oil in many other areas: eastern Gulf of Mexico, outer continental shelf, and in the Rocky Mountains. Restrictive leases for drilling on government owned land also must be reviewed.
Currently, converting the existing oil to gasoline is a major problem. We have not built a new refinery in this country in decades. When we abandon a large military base in a remote location we should build a new refinery in that area. Modern technology can build a clean, efficient refinery, and the obstacles that are preventing this from happening must be removed.
As a society we consume energy with little regard to the detrimental effect this is having on the world around us. We must learn to conserve energy in our daily lives. Such societal changes are not often solved by more legislation. Smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles that use alternative fuels, weatherization of residential and commercial buildings and increased use of public transportation all are examples of changes that can and should be implemented.
