The unknown oil “moratorium”
Gasoline prices are now approaching $4 per gallon, and, in some states they already exceed that amount. We know about the drilling moratorium that still seems to be in place in the Gulf of Mexico, in spite of the fact that it is almost one year after the Deep Water Horizon oil spill. We know that Federal Judge Feldman told the federal government to start issuing permits for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, but, the Obama administration is still “working” on the issue.
But, here is what you may not know.
There is a proposal to build what is known as the Keystone XL Pipeline. It would allow Canada to supply an additional 1.1 million barrels of oil per day to the United States. Most of this oil would be transported to Texas, but, there would be connections to other refineries in the United States.
In 2008, the matter was referred to our State Department.
Despite a thorough environmental review by the State Department last year and an Energy Department study in February of this year–which found that the project should move forward–the Obama administration this month announced another round of environmental studies. [emphasis supplied]
Sometimes I wonder if anyone in this administration is paying attention to reality, as opposed to ideology.
14 Comments
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um, yeah–environmental studies.
let's consider the logic (not to mention the economies) in having oil drilled, extracted and refined in a regionally proximate way.
(strains of 'day tripper' play up as the scene cuts to. . .)
They keep saying even if we started drilling today we won't see any results for 4-5 years but they been saying this for over 5 years so if we had started 5 years ago maybe gas prices wouldn't be so high today
1. Ramrod everything through the system but this drilling issue – gotta be prudent. @$$ backwards eh?
2. Why in God's name would we bother piping oil all the way across the US to Texas just to pump it where it needs to go? The (relatively) temporary jobs of installing a pipeline could be permanent jobs with new refineries farther north.
Is this like the milk prices being based on the costs of shipping it from Chicago, even if it is actually travelling a far less distance?
"Environmental studies" are just a stalling tactic. It won't make a difference if it is BP or the Chinese or the Mexicans or the Venezuelans who spill the oil: it will be spilled. And why would you trust any of the aforementioned over our own companies?
Bottom line: the greenies (watermelons: green on the outside, red on the inside) can't control foreign entities.
Remember "never let a crisis go to waste" and if you can make it worse though action or inaction all the better.
It our nation's goal to be Brazil's best customer for oil, not Canada's.
What a shame that Øbama can't cap the ballooning deficit the way he has capped (crippled?) the search and pumping and processing of oil.
You couldn't have a better plan for destroying the American economy if you tried. Maybe he is….
I know that you know they have worked long and hard on this plan. This is 50 years of socialist/communist planning coming to roost. What amazes me is the left continues to deny they're doing it. We know it, they know it, just be honest about it and let the people decide.
How much is this anti oil attitude affecting the price of oil, which is all we seem to be hearing about since the magic $4 mark is being exceeded?
It isn't supply, it isn't demand; it is psychology.
Study it until the opportunity to do something has passed. What a genius maneuver. It's a great way to never have to make a decision.
Maybe France will get him to move forward on this as they did with the situation in Libya? If foreign countries are going to help the young president steer our foreign policy, maybe they can help him steer our energy policies as well.
Maybe it is time for the leaders of this country to consider the meaning of "Natural Resources" and seriously consider responsibly harvesting some of the vast amounts within our borders instead of relying on the rest of the world to supply us with theirs.
Enriching despots, Muslim fanatics and communists in the process. Don't subsidize what you don't want more of….
Lets face reality obama said he wanted European style goverment and $8 is that. Its his way of forcing us into mass transit and high speed trains. Trying to force big trucks to use natural gas means that they will be unable to cross the GW Bridge or go thru tunnels because propane and natural gas would be considered hazardous materials. I sure wouldn't want to be in a vehicle that was powered by propane or natural gas and you have an accident that results in a fire.