The Truth About ANWR

The Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is the secret that Democrats in Washington don’t want the American people to know: This is a treasure trove of energy that will yield a lot with only minimal intrusion.

For far too long, Americans have been told by the environmentalist left that drilling in Alaska would hurt the abundant wildlife and natural resources there. This is simply not true. ANWR is a small part of the Arctic Circle in northern Alaska. Energy exploration would be limited to a small 2,000-acre lot within ANWR. That is comparable to a postage stamp sitting on a football field.

Exploration of ANWR revealed that almost no wildlife exists in the 2,000-acre area proposed for drilling. It is flat arctic tundra with absolutely no trees in view. Alaskan Caribou and wildlife were nowhere near the possible drilling sites.

Furthermore, we know that nine months out of the year this area is hidden under snow and ice and three months out of the year the area is covered in complete darkness.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that there are 10.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil in ANWR. And these estimates are based on exploration done in the 1970s. Federal moratoria on these lands have restricted even modern technological investigation of what oil reserves may be available for tapping. Imagine what modern surveying techniques might show. It gets better; the EIA has also stated that the production of this oil would create an estimated 750,000 American jobs. At a time when our nation is hurting because of rising food and gas costs, more domestic energy and new jobs would give the economy a much needed boost.

The fact of the matter is that Congress is standing in the way of $1-2 per gallon gas (as the rule, instead of the current exception). As mentioned, in yesterday’s article, don’t be fooled by the $44 per barrel today. Planned cuts in production (see Jimmy Carter era) will force supply and demand strategies to once again drive up prices, and as early as February 2009.

It is Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats who are refusing to let commonsense energy legislation come to the floor. The American people are hurting and gas prices will continue to spiral out of control. But Congress continues to turn a deaf ear.We have the resources available in areas like ANWR, Colorado, California, and off-shore, to lower oil costs and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less!