What If ANWR Drilling Was Approved 10 Years Ago?

Ten years ago, members of the U.S. Senate voiced their objections to drilling in ANWR - a constant reason against the drilling was that it wasn't an immediate fix to our domestic energy needs. The objectors said it would take ten years to have oil from the drilling efforts, should drilling begin. Well, it's ten years and how's that all worked out?

Their objections voiced a common concern: ANWR wouldn’t begin to produce oil for up to ten years. Here’s what some of the Senators had to say: •“There would be no production out of [ANWR] for at least 7 years.” -Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) •“Oil extracted from [ANWR] would not reach refineries for seven to ten years.” -Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) •“No oil will flow from ANWR…until from 7 to 10 years from now.” -Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) •“Oil exploration in ANWR will not actually start producing oil for as many as 10 years.” -Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) •“Even if we started drilling [in ANWR] tomorrow, the first barrel of crude oil would not make it to the market for at least 10 years.” -Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

Here's the video of objections : We have to start somewhere, sometime. Reaping the bounty of our natural resources of oil and gas drilling is never an immediate proposition. The process is, in fact, laborious. It is slow. Much preparation and skill is required to produce a barrel of oil. The technology is available and safety of the worker and the environment is of the utmost concern. To imply that energy companies and workers do not respect the fragility of their natural surroundings is a farce pushed by political ideologues. As is his habit, Barack Obama would like for you to believe that there is really nothing that a president can do about energy prices. He makes election year stunt moves - like stating that he is considering releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or holding press conferences to blame "speculators" for the rise in prices - but the fact is that the president can put into place sound energy policy that will increase our energy independence. So far, Barack Obama has done everything in his power to shut down domestic energy production and promote his new green energy start-up pet projects, mostly owned and pitched by big dollar contributors to his campaigns.
 
Yes, Virginia. There is gambling in River City.

There is nothing wrong with pursuing green energy - of which I would argue includes natural gas production - but not at the expense of domestic oil drilling. Talk about benefits years and years down the road. Solar, wind and the like are decades down the line before any widespread use will be available. If at all. The president likes to hijack the "all of the above" strategy during election years but acts in the reverse.

With this president, watch what he does, not what he says.