On the Subject of Offshore Drilling

Apparently Congress is back in session to continue the debate for whether or not the U.S. should go after offshore drilling. (Read about it here.) Supporters of more offshore drilling argue that it will help ease the burden of high oil prices. I haven't read too much about those who are against offshore drilling, but I'm sure it has something to do with the environmental impact.

I don't think that by allowing more offshore drilling Washington is going to help relieve the prices at the pump. I think people think that if you strike oil today, the price of gas will go down overnight. That is ridiculous. It will take years for any effects of that offshore drilling to have any effect on how current situation. It isn't a quick fix.

Now, on the subject of drilling, the Alaska's ANWR and alternative energy sources are probably our best bet for more immediate relief at the pump. And all of those environmentalists want you to believe that when we go drilling in Alaska, we're going to see big derricks and oil pumps like we see all over Texas and Oklahoma. That simply is not the case at all. Already, there are drill pads located that allow for minimally invasive drilling techniques. With one drill pad, it's possible to drill over 40 holes, each going in separate directions. These pads would be housed in buildings. Chevron has already begun drilling there, but was forced to cap off the holes when Washington said no more.

The best solution we need is really to take hold of alternative energy sources research and actually do something about it. Regardless of whether or not we have more offshore drilling or drill in ANWR, we will never produce the supply of oil that the U.S. demands and will always rely on foreign oil. The only way we can get rid of our reliance on foreign oil is to get rid of our reliance on oil.