So the Senate approved drilling in ANWR, and with little fanfare in the blogosphere. The politics of the issue seems that opposition to inconsequential drilling in a miniscule portion of a barren tundra is hard to sustain when the price of oil has hit $57 a barrel. Good- there is no real reason we shouldn’t be extracting our natural resources for our benefit.
However, the notion that this will stop our energy problems is absurd. More crude does not boost our refining capacity. More crude does not do anything about demand. More crude does not really impact our main energy consumption- electricity and the production of electricity.
As usual, both parties have their own oxes that need to be gored. Liberals need to get over their knee-jerk opposition and outright demagoguery regarding the use of nuclear power. Republicans need to quit catering to the auto industry and dramatically increase CAFE standards (which are ridiculously low considering the technological breakthroughs of the last 20 years- even FORD admits certain vehicles are environmentally unfriendly). Both parties need to infuse money into industries researching alternative energy sources. Tax credits and incentives need to be boosted for those who conserve or use energy conscious products.
I doubt any of it happens.
*** Update ***
If you happen to think that CAFE standards are stupid or unnecessary, then fine. I would much rather have no Cafe standards than ineffective, outdated, and useless ones.