Kevin makes some good points. I would also add that if drilling were allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, it could take years before the lawsuits that would surely follow could be settled. It could also take a long time for all the infrastructure, pipelines, roads, landing strips, docks and all the necessary equipment to be built.  On top of all that there is no law that would prevent the oil industry from selling oil to the highest bidder, read China. Motorists are angry now about high prices and drilling on public land will not make any difference for a very long time. Jerry Neff
----- Original Message -----
From: Phyllis Mains <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:11:19 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Drilling letter by SC member Kevin Marquardt

Thanks Kevin!  Kevin is a member of the IA Sierra Club Alaska Wilderness
Committee and network.  Phyllis
Wilderness drilling won't cut gas prices
In response to the April 6 letter, "We Should Drill Here to Reduce Gas
Prices," it is essential Americans understand that we cannot drill
ourselves to lower gasoline prices by opening public lands to big oil
companies. Compared to the world's oil potential, the estimates from the
U.S. Geological Survey found a small amount of oil in the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, which amounts to merely a drop in the bucket.

Such potential would in no way be able "to free us from dependence on
foreign oil." Our independence from foreign oil will not occur as long as
we rely on our outdated energy sources (oil) of the 19th century, but
from our investments in 21st century sources from renewable energy. The
Energy Information Administration estimates that lower gasoline prices
will not occur if drilling in the Arctic Refuge occurs.
Big oil companies use Americans as pawns to control the production of
oil, thus forcing us to pay roughly $4 per gallon for gasoline. Allowing
big oil companies to drill wherever they choose will not provide
Americans a solution to consumption needs.

This is why Americans need to urge Congress and President Barack Obama to
invest in renewable energy and to permanently protect the Arctic Refuge.

- Kevin Marquardt, Clive

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