To Drill or Not to Drill

To Drill or Not to Drill? That Is the Question

Dawn Borders

Hum111

Robin Diedrichs, M.Ed.

The question to drill or not to drill can become a very complex dilemma. Drilling in the United States one would think it could help with the rising gas prices, but it can also create environmental risks. Although risks are involved with drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), environmentalists feel that it is not worth the value of the wilderness and its natural beauty. Improvements in technology have lessened the threat to harm any of the fish, fowl, and mammals that live and breed there. Drilling in the United States would reduce the dependence on foreign oil, but it can also create disruptions with the Middle Eastern politics.

The Obama Administration is calling for legislation designed to create an energy economy. The legislation will help in creating millions of jobs as well as renewable energy. There are many ways that the United States can help itself by not only relying on foreign oil. But it has the technology and resources to help in this effort. Not every American can afford to purchase a hybrid vehicle, but if Americans pull together, and say for instance, car pool, it will help in the effort of cleaner air. The Obama Administration is working diligently on creating alternative energy sources and reducing our reliance on foreign oil.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) 2008 World Energy Outlook (WEO) has provided insight into the oil supply problem by stating the following statement; “The ever worsening financial crisis could possibly bring economic recession which reduces oil demand and leads to falling prices. Henceforth, the energy price in the next two years will experience great volatility; however, considering the fundamental factors, the era of cheap oil is over”. The use of fossil fuels, renewable energy, solar, and wind will provide clean reliable energy that will lessen our dependence and...