Before I get to my main point let me be clear. If we got it, we should drill for it. To quote Senator McCain….”Drill here, and drill now”. Onshore, offshore, Alaska, Florida, California wherever. It’s absurd on the face of it that we should import any more oil than we absolutely have to. The environmentalists’ argument that the incremental environmental damage isn’t worth the small amount of  additional oil is a false argument. Oil drilling and production using today’s technology is very safe and reliable. Barrel for barrel, any oil produced in the USA is far more likely to create the least amount of harm relative to imported oil. Viewed through that lens, it’s an economic (jobs), environmental, and arguably even a moral imperative that we produce as much of our own oil as we can…..responsibly.

But whether you agree with my position or are vehemently opposed to it, “drill-don’t drill” is a distracting debate that misses the core issue regarding oil specifically and energy use generally. Namely…..We Can’t Drill Our Way Out! Out of what you ask? First, we can’t drill our way to energy independence. Secondly, we can’t drill our way to a reduction in greenhouse gases and global environmental decline. Bah, humbug to global warming you say? Ok, then let’s just stay with energy independence (and if you don’t think that matters either then have a nice war).

The data shown in the graph below originates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (www.eia.doe.gov); as reliable a source of unvarnished energy data as you’re likely to find anywhere. The yellow sliver shows the projected incremental oil as a result of full bore offshore drilling. I don’t know about you but it sure doesn’t instill a sense of confidence that offshore drilling is going to lead us to the promised land of energy independence. Not even close. In fact, let’s call a spade a spade. It’s an absurd argument.

So what’s my point? My point is, we can’t begin to have rational political discourse on national energy policy until we, and more importantly the politicians, move past this marginal issue and get to the meat and potatoes challenge of weaning us off of oil. Drill here and drill now makes for a catchy campaign sound bite,  but it’s really a cynical red herring. Don’t buy into it and insist on better. The good news is that we really can get there. But not with a drill.

Tags: energy, global warming