Why America should choose to drill for oil in Alaska

Why America should choose to drill for oil in Alaska

Drilling for oil in Alaska has been one of the most controversial s in the United Stated for many years . Many U .S geologists have confirmed that billions of barrels of oil lie beneath the Alaskan coastal plain In the east of Alaska lies The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge considered to be the largest oil field of North America . It is essential for United States to take a plunge in Alaska and seek out this viable opportunity . These fresh barrels of US oil

will break away the country 's dependency on the oil rich Middle Eastern countries especially Iraq . The House of Representatives approved drilling in Alaska by passing an energy bill in Aug 2001 . This year , the President of United States lifted the ban on oil and gas drilling in Alaska 's Bristol Bay

Prices of oil have risen dramatically in the last few years and the nation 's dependency is becoming too costly . It is estimated by the U .S Department of Interior that nine to 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil ' can be extracted from ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ) in North America . This amount of oil is enough to last the entire United States eighteen months . While these statistics might seem trivial but if the US consumes about 20 million barrels of oil per day , and at a rate of 1 .5 million barrels per day from Alaska , 7 .5 of America 's oil consumption could be met for over 20 years (Muhawi . Prices of oil will dramatically fall . These lowered prices of oil could radically improve the economical scenario of United States . In addition to this American oil imports will also reduce by 15 with the help of the Alaskan oil . American imports are over 25 from the Middle East

Environmentalists who fear that habitats of caribou , polar bears wolves , and many other species will be destroyed should relax because only 8 percent (1 .5 million acres ) is being analyzed for development This development will cause negligible environmental damage . It is incorrect for media to show snowcapped mountains and polar bears as news footage because it misleads audiences and makes them believe that drilling will be in those areas . Areas that will be drilled are on a small part of Alaska where humans already live . Alaska consists of protected land of 141 million acres which is almost equal to the area of California and New York together . So , the rest of Alaska will remain preserved in its true form

The National Academy of Sciences reported lately that oil drilling had troubled some endangered species and made whaling difficult however it has neither caused huge oil spills nor a decrease in migration of caribou . Caribou herd that passes through ANWR is predicted to be harmed by the drilling of oil . However , people are often unaware that since drilling started in Prudhoe Bay in 1977 it has actually lead to an increase in migration of the caribou...