To Drill or Not to Drill?

To Drill or Not to Drill?

Due to the rising prices in gas these days, many consumers have questioned whether the United States is actually doing all it can, in an effort to decrease the inflated prices that we have been experiencing at the pump. Some would argue that the United States has become far too dependent on oil, and should be researching inexpensive, reliable alternative sources of energy. I believe that while there is a need for alternative sources as a backup, the US should also explore drilling in Alaska and the Gulf Coast; as they should not rely solely on Solar, Wind, or Geothermal energy.

I am most in favor of drilling in Alaska, as it is believed to be an abundance of oil located there. In doing so, we as a nation could possibly build up a national reserve of oil in an effort to reduce on the high cost of importing it from Canada and Mexico, with regards to the Persian Gulf as well. Exploring additional areas would also allow us to see what resources we have, and perhaps afford the US the opportunity to be less dependent on other countries in North America. The debate to explore other alternatives, such as wind and solar power are not necessarily the best move for sole sources of energy. Solar power works by trapping the sun’s rays into cells, thus producing energy which turns into electricity. This is only convenient for practical uses such as cooking, lighting and heating a home; and this is only effective when the sun shines. In addition, the solar stations are very expensive to manufacture. As for Wind power, one of the advantages is that it does reduce the pollution in the environment commonly caused by gas and fuels, but because of the size of the windmills, it poses a limit on where it can be utilized depending on your terrain and climate. If you are not located in an area that is very windy, then the production of energy is reduced. Although it wouldn’t be the greatest choice for a large metro city, it would be conducive for farmlands...