I was disappointed last summer when the House of Representatives voted to open the Arctic National Wildlife in Alaska to oil drilling – a choice that makes no sense economically or environmentally.
Ninety-five percent of Alaska’s vast North Slope is already available for oil and gas exploration and leasing. The coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge represents the last 5 percent that remains off limits to drilling. No one knows if or how much oil is there. But if there is any oil there, estimates are that it’s less than a six-month supply, and it will take ten years to bring online.
Ultimately, no amount oil is worth the cost of drilling the Arctic Refuge. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is America’s Serengeti – home to polar bears, wolves and migratory birds, and is the birthing grounds for the Porcupine River Caribou Herd.
Drilling the Arctic Refuge isn’t the answer to higher prices at the pump – breaking our dependence on oil is the solution. We need our senators to support an energy bill that secures our energy future while protecting our precious public lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. By making America’s cars and SUVs go farther on a gallon of gas, and using more renewable energy like wind and solar power, we can create more jobs, reduce our dependence on oil and help protect our environment.
Edmonds
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