In the Fight for Energy Production, Why is it Nature vs. Need?
As summer has gotten into full swing, gas prices across the nation have once again crept to the $4/gallon mark. The last time gas was under $2/gallon in the United Stages was November of 2008. Since then the price has fluctuated, but the average is consistently around $3.40/gallon. According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration), at the current rate of consumption the US has enough natural gas for the next 92 years, and recently calculated estimates show 7.4 billion barrels of oil and 6.7 trillion barrels of natural gas in the Dakota/Montana region alone. These deposits are just beginning to be excavated. So why are Americans paying so much for gas?
One reason is the constant debate between environmentalism and fossil fuel energy productions. It never ceases to amaze me how if you are pro-drilling you must automatically be anti-environment. I find this argument ludicrous. I love nature, I love animals, I have dozens of “earth bags,” and I attempt to recycle whenever possible. However, whenever I say we should be drilling more I invariably hear that drilling is bad for the environment and we need to care for the earth by investing in alternative energies. Awesome! I am all for investing in alternative forms of energy.
Solar? Bring it on; I have solar powered lamps in the garden.
Wind farms? I am mesmerized by these.
Hydro? Who doesn’t love water?
Nuclear? Sure.
Investing in new technology is entrepreneurial, but it needs to be done in the marketplace, and it should be done alongside current forms of energy production. The current administration seems to think that the only form of energy needs to be “green energy.” This has been evidenced by the government’s investment in Solyndra (which failed), the backlog of 3,500 drilling permits awaiting approval at the BLM, and the 2,122 days that have lapsed since Keystone was presented to the White House. The problem with investing in green energy to the exclusion of existing forms is twofold; one, green energy is still a relatively new meaning technology and is still emerging as is a consumer base. Two, excluding the existing energy industry is hurting the economy.
The energy industry represents just over 7 percent of the US economy, providing over 9 million jobs. While the US economy contracted in the first quarter of this year, and unemployment still remains a major issue, a few states in the nation are flourishing. The state with the largest growth rate and lowest unemployment rate in the nation is North Dakota. This state is experiencing an economic boom due to investment by oil companies and the jobs they are creating by drilling and fracking. Other states with GDP growth and low unemployment include: Texas, home to US oil production; Oklahoma which has a healthy mining industry and growing oil production; Colorado, which despite heavy backlash in oil drilling, has a healthy mining industry; and Wyoming, home to eight of the largest mines and the leader in US coal production.
What these states have in common, aside from growing economies, is an environment that is welcoming to all forms of energy production. Despite the oil and natural gas production that is occurring on private land in some parts of the country, more could be done. The US government owns 28 percent of US land, and in order explore, develop, drill or anything else on the land you must apply for permits. Currently there is at least an eight month waiting period.
Caring for the environment is important. I believe most people want some form of nature to remain intact for the next generation, but we should not hold development hostage. Not only does domestic energy production produce a healthy economy, it frees the nation from dependence on foreign sources. Given the instability that is ravaging the Middle East, it is more important than ever that the US invest in domestic forms of energy that will eliminate our need to rely on outside sources.
Energy production need not be green or fossil fuel, it should be both. Support the existing sources and let the marketplace invest in the green energy sources of the future.
Photo courtesy of MBI Energy Services
