DISQUS

Steve S · 1 year ago

"...is to focus our resources to implement existing renewables..."

Interesting how you mention "our" resources, as if "our" resources are being used to develop offshore oil rigs. Oil companies takes risks with their own money (those disgusting profits you've been hearing so much about). That is the beauty of the private sector. We don't need politicians to assess the dangers of economic activity for us.

Besides, why don't we do a count of the number of oil rigs damaged during Gustav?

tim · 1 year ago

I love the logic of the left. "Hurricaine Gustav proves that exploration for new oil on the outer continental shelf is a bad idea." Your definition of proof must be different than mine. So we should not add U.S. offshore production anywhere because a category 5 storm might destroy the the platforms and refineries. Maybe we should shut down the ones already in production too. We can all ride our bicycles to work and use our electric appliances when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining. I'll also start a big garden in the back yard and rais a few chickens since I won't be able to get food products at the grocery store any more without fuel available to the transportation industry.

L. Bell · 1 year ago

Mr. Niederquell's letter concerns me.

He states that "Hurricane Gustav proves that exploration for new oil on the outer continental shelf is a bad idea. "

That statement is simply not true. The hurricane did not 'prove' that oil exploration is a bad idea.

And worse, he then implies that the 'government' might solve the energy problem.

No.

The free market (supply and demand) has now brought the oil price up to the level that alternative forms of energy are financially viable.

Let entrepreneurs invest in their money in the production of wind, solar, and other forms of energy -- by the profit motive.

And let's not have the government then punish them, by taxes, and take away the money they have earned.

lincmercguy · 1 year ago

I know some people can't remember more than two years ago, but have you already forgotten that Bush saved the NREL from getting shut down completely? And beyond that, Bush doesn't control how much funding NREL gets, Congress does.

Prices will always go up due to hurricanes because most refineries are on the coast since we get a good majority of our oil from oil tankers from the Middle East and other countries.

Researching alternative energies has to be done as well, but it will be a couple of decades before they can become cost effective. In the mean time, we need to drill for oil so that we actually have oil for our use until those technologies become practical.

We have to do both, it's as simple as that. Anyone who says we have to do one and not the other is simply using it for political purposes. Of course, the author isn't using it correctly anyway.

EF Hoden · 1 year ago

Concur on all alternative forms of energy and conervation. Keep in mind that Cat 5 Katrina damaged hundreds of oil rigs in the gulf. No major spills recorded. Just debating additional exploration has brought down oil futures. Petroleum will be needed for years to come, and for more than just gasoline. Conversion of all the Fritos in the world will not supply the energy we need. Decrease demand and increase supply; prices drop. Third grade economics.

Edd V · 1 year ago

Hey, Mark....any oil get spilled during Gustav? Nope. Any oil spilled from oil platforms during Katrina? Nope. Whenever a hurricane approaches the US, lumber, generators, bottled water, etc., all command a premium price. You must have skipped school the day they talked about supply and demand. If we drill for oil in every likely location, the supply of domestic oil will increase and local problems like hurricanes or refinery shutdowns won't affect gas prices so much. NREL does good work....but why should taxpayers pay for stuff the private sector can do equally as well?

Elwood · 1 year ago

"...When a cat 5 storm rolls in and destroys the platforms..", just like Katrina wiped them all out, right?

Guess again.

Geophys55 · 1 year ago

Alrighty, mister smarty-pants. Go and tell Norway that they were fools to become rich by offshore drilling. Go and tell the Brazilians that becoming the "Saudis" of the Western Hemishpere is a bad idea. In fact, go tell all these countires that the sure path they are following to wealth is a bad idea:

Angola Argentina Australia* Azerbaijan
Brunei Brazil Canada* China*
Congo Cameroon Denmark Egypt
England* Equatorial Guinea Germany India
Indonesia Ireland Iran Ivory Coast
Japan Kazakhstan Korea Malaysia
Mauritania Mexico* Myanmar Mozambique
Madagascar New Zealand Norway* Nigeria*
Philippines Russia Scotland* Singapore
South Africa Sweden Trinidad & Tobago Thailand
Tunisia Turkey Uganda Vietnam
Venezuela*

*Major Players

Wanabes: (those leasing, exploring or with plans to drill)

Argentina Cuba Colombia Falkland Islands
Iceland Peru Portugal


If you don't want your own country to prosper, just come out and say it. But don't lie to convince others.

sharon blackburn · 1 year ago

Once a pumping platform is in place, they stay in place. But they are vulnerable while being built. It is the refineries that seem to be the problem, didn't they shut some of them down during the hurricane?

Offshore platforms are not leaking all over the place.