Donald K. Allen for President

Oil Dependence / Independence

Our President went to Saudi Arabia May 15, 2008, to ask them to increase their oil production.  Why?  We have the resources.  Does our government bow to lobbyists and environmental groups when our country needs relief from oil prices? 

            Forty miles off our shore China is drilling for oil.  Although the drilling platform is out of our territorial waters, the drill bit can be angled toward any direction, tapping oil fields that are not even under the platform, i.e. inside our territory.  Our country’s oil companies have been prohibited from drilling new wells off our coasts and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), primarily due to legislation initiated and encouraged by environmental groups and their lobbyists.

            Even though drilling for oil today is tremendously safe in regard to the environment, and precautions are paramount to prevent any contamination, they are still blocked.  I am as concerned for our environment and the preservation of wildlife, national forests, refuge areas, air and water as is every American.  We are all much more aware of pollution and contamination today than we were forty years ago, and the vast majority of us are always conscious of what we can do to help.  There are times, however, when we must consider ALL alternatives in a crisis situation.  This country is in a crisis today.

            I would authorize exploration and drilling both offshore and in ANWR, with extreme regard for protecting the environment.  These steps must be taken to ensure that this country doesn’t become even more dependent on foreign oil.  At the same time I will fund development of alternative sources of fuel.  Biofuel from corn is not the answer.  In fact, it is considered “old technology,” and is causing more harm than good overall.  Recent discoveries of oil from algae have shown a productivity 100 times greater than from corn per acre of use.  An Ohio engineer just discovered that radio frequencies can allow us to burn salt water!  This research must be focused on and funded maximally to see if it is feasible as an alternative power source.  More nuclear power plants are also to be explored, and building more refineries is imperative.  There has not been a new refinery built in this country for over 30 years.  New construction would also be designed to accommodate other oils, such as algae oil.

I would create a one billion dollar prize for the company or person(s) who find a way to make this country independent of foreign oil within 10 years.  That would, basically, mean creating an engine that does not require petroleum products that would be affordable and powerful enough to replace private and commercial vehicle engines.  Remember, we put a man on the moon.

With foreign manufacturers producing 50-mile-per-gallon efficient cars, why can’t American auto manufacturers do better than that?  Is it that our oil industry is so tightly linked to our automobile industry that they want us to continue slurping up the gasoline?  Fuel-efficient cars certainly would decrease our demand for oil, and oil company profits.