In Easing Offshore Drilling Ban, House Also Expands Energy Exploration Onshore

we need to get back to work

times are hard,i beleive everyone has seen just the way it is getting these days ,the rise in oil prices ,then the drop.yes it is nice to see lower gas prices.but that just means,a hudge lack of oil drilling.if the.price of oil stays low like now ,the companies doing the drilling cant afford to go looking . if they dont drill so many other companies cant do their jobs.the trucking companies,the supply companies,the pipe line workers ,the entire oilfield is slowing down to a a point where our bosses are have to cut ,hours or do the thing that they hate the most ,lay off threir hands. those hands have to go home and tell there little kids that they cant afford the little things in life anymore ,like food, lights,heat,their homes.if things keep on going the way it is now in the oilfield,there wont be nothing for the next generation oilfield.so lets get back to drilling,in texas and the oklahoma panhandle.before it is to late.i know that everyone is ready to get back to work .so lets do it ,,please..we need it ,our country needs it.we can be great again.just like we were.so with your help and gods help,it can happen...i just hope i made a difference here.i just filt like i needed to say something.thank you .god bless you and yours...

what is this?!

huh?

Environmental Destruction

For the last 20 years Environmental concerns, laws, gripes, and complaints have forced America into this situation. The costs of Environmental Compliance equipment in industry is ridiculously expensive, however, it must be in place. Animal rights, insect rights, and plant rights have far more exceeded the rights of humans, thus hurting the economy. Drilling in OUR country will provide energy, jobs, and will help the economy. Who cares about the seals or woodpeckers? They don't pay taxes. I agree that we still need to look into different types of energy, but go ahead and do it already, and quit talking about it. You can not convince me, if you take a handful of scientists and engineers and give them a chevy 350 small block and tell them to make it run with no oil or gas, they could do it. But that might cause us to offend dirt's rights...

More Drilling the Solution

Domestic drilling is the solution. Drilling in the US will supply billions of barrels of energy and millions of good paying jobs. It is true the majority of Americans want more drilling in offshore waters and in federal lands so they have the energy they need to heat their houses, drive to work, and enjoy the standard of living they deserve. It is time for the most unpopular congress in US history to realize the time is right to safely drill right here in our own country. The government needs to get out of the way and facilitate progress rather than prevent it.

offshore drilling

The 70% solution.

Americans are in love with the quick fix. If it sounds good and requires a minimum amount of effort on our part it’s fine by us, and so we have a significant number of citizens supporting the idea of expanding domestic oil production.

Seventy percent, if the polls are correct. I find that interesting, since it’s also been pointed out recently that two thirds of us are overweight. Is it a coincidence that virtually the same number of Americans lacking the character and self discipline to pursue a healthy lifestyle are also unwilling to make the effort and sacrifices necessary to solve our current energy crisis? I’m sure those of you who drive SUV’s because they’re safer, meaning safer for you and more dangerous to the rest of us, fit into at least one of those two groups.

And while we’re at it, isn’t this about more than our failed energy policies? Hasn’t it been demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that global warming is real? Its effects are being felt even now, to say nothing about how much worse things will get in the future. But let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t about solving anything other than $4/gallon gas prices. It wasn’t in the hope of saving the planet that we started trading in our gas guzzling SUV’s, it was when gas hit $3.50/gallon that this phenomenon occurred, just as the same scenario played out back in the 70’s. Not surprising, considering those SUV drivers would have been better served with more efficient and intelligently designed vehicles in the first place.

So why do we find ourselves with the problem today? Weren’t the oil shortage and the subsequent crippling of out economy enough of a wakeup call back then? Certainly there was a failure of our political leaders to heed that warning, but ask yourselves this. Would those same seventy percenters’ have elected anyone campaigning on a platform based on increased gas taxes to invest in alternative energy sources, let alone even remotely hinting at the bigger sacrifices needed in order to secure energy independence and a cleaner environment for our future?

When discussing politics with people from other countries, the phrase “Americans deserve the people they elect” often comes up. To paraphrase a famous quote, “no one ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people.” That quote applies to votes as well, as exemplified by the fact our very own president said recently that increased drilling will have no effect on gas prices in the immediate future and only minimal effect in the long run. He couldn’t help pointing this out as he was lifting the ban on offshore drilling!

Shouldn’t the absurdity of basing so much of our economic livelihood on a finite source of energy also be mentioned in this discussion, as well as the fact that increased drilling will only increase the chances of adding yet another environmental disaster to the one we’re trying to solve? And hey, by all means let’s increase our reliance on oil rigs out in the Gulf. Just think of the impact another hurricane would have on gas prices if we invested even more heavily on offshore drilling. Maybe we should look on the bright side. The more we drill the quicker we’ll run out. The world’s such a wonderful place now, it’ll be so much better when we’re all fighting over that last drop of oil!

But arguing about drilling these days is like discussing religion. At some point, a person just believes what they want to, and nothing anyone says is going to change that. Too bad believing something doesn’t necessarily make it true. Too bad you can’t teach common sense. The bottom line is, our politicians will continue to insult the intelligence of the rest of us while the seventy percenters’ worry about their petty self interests, and while that’s happening the situation will just keep getting worse.

Here’s one thing I know to be true, America. There is no quick fix, and when it comes to saving our environment and securing a future for latter generations, you’re either part of the solution or you’re part of the problem. Maybe it’s time we stop listening to “the great masses of the plain people” and start making decisions that make sense, regardless of the personal sacrifices involved.

At a time when we must seek alternative energy sources, even as we enhance domestic production, the failure to understand the issues associated with long-term sustainability of the very region that keeps our country’s energy and economic engines is lost in the national discussion. Today, America’s Energy Coast – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama – is producing 90% of the offshore domestic oil and gas supply. That production is connected to 50% of the country’s refining capacity and the numerous chemical and petrochemical companies. The products produced by those industries are critical to the nation. This same region produces a third of continental America’s seafood, is home to the world’s largest port system by tonnage, the strategic oil reserve, and the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way, a crucial navigation route for chemical supplies and bulk cargo from the tip of Texas to Florida. All this has historically been protected by fragile wetlands that are disappearing at the greatest land loss rate on the planet. As Mr. Garber points out, the Congressional debate on expansion of offshore drilling will continue, and at its core must be how the nation addresses the sustainability challenges facing those coastal regions which produce our offshore supply now and in the future. The America’s Energy Coast initiative has developed an accord to deal with these issues, which can be used as a model for any state seeking to expand its offshore oil production. For more information visit americasenergycoast.org.

Offshore Energy Experience

At a time when we must seek alternative energy sources, even as we enhance domestic production, the failure to understand the issues associated with long-term sustainability of the very region that keeps our country’s energy and economic engines is lost in the national discussion. Today, America’s Energy Coast – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama – is producing 90% of the offshore domestic oil and gas supply. That production is connected to 50% of the country’s refining capacity and the numerous chemical and petrochemical companies. The products produced by those industries are critical to the nation. This same region produces a third of continental America’s seafood, is home to the world’s largest port system by tonnage, the strategic oil reserve, and the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way, a crucial navigation route for chemical supplies and bulk cargo from the tip of Texas to Florida. All this has historically been protected by fragile wetlands that are disappearing at the greatest land loss rate on the planet. As Mr. Garber points out, the Congressional debate on expansion of offshore drilling will continue, and at its core must be how the nation addresses the sustainability challenges facing those coastal regions which produce our offshore supply now and in the future. The America’s Energy Coast initiative has developed an accord to deal with these issues, which can be used as a model for any state seeking to expand its offshore oil production.

Missing the Point!

At a time when we must seek alternative energy sources, even as we enhance domestic production, the failure to understand the issues associated with long-term sustainability of the very region that keeps our country’s energy and economic engines is lost in the national discussion. Today, America’s Energy Coast – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama – is producing 90% of the offshore domestic oil and gas supply. That production is connected to 50% of the country’s refining capacity and the numerous chemical and petrochemical companies. The products produced by those industries are critical to the nation. This same region produces a third of continental America’s seafood, is home to the world’s largest port system by tonnage, the strategic oil reserve, and the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way, a crucial navigation route for chemical supplies and bulk cargo from the tip of Texas to Florida. All this has historically been protected by fragile wetlands that are disappearing at the greatest land loss rate on the planet. As Mr. Garber points out, the Congressional debate on expansion of offshore drilling will continue, and at its core must be how the nation addresses the sustainability challenges facing those coastal regions which produce our offshore supply now and in the future. The America’s Energy Coast initiative has developed an accord to deal with these issues, which can be used as a model for any state seeking to expand its offshore oil production. For more information visit americasenergycoast.org.

taxes on oil companies

Anyone out there who can address the details of the proposed new taxes/ cancellation of tax breaks for "the five largest oil companies" in this legislation?

Questions: Since no American oil companies are among the seven largest in the world, just which companies will be affected? If the five largest are not American, then how will we implement these tax changes?

If it only applies to US companies, are we putting our cos. at a disadvantage globally?

Any insight or direction to original material would be appreciated.

Mignon Evans

www.thenationalintelligence.com

Well I put on my reading glasses and this is what I found

Material used for educational purposes:

WASHINGTON, July 3 (Reuters) - While the U.S. oil industry wants access to more federal lands to help reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, American-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries.

A record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007. Shipments this February topped 1.8 million barrels a day for the first time during any month, according to final numbers from the Energy Department.

The surge in exports appears to contradict the pleas from the U.S. oil industry and the Bush administration for Congress to open more offshore waters and Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.