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not occur as long as we rely on our outdated energy sources (oil) of the 19th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