The Keystone XL Pipeline

The continuing Keystone XL pipeline battle has missed the entire point. While both sides fight over the route of a simple pipeline, the bigger fight has been forgotten. What could be bigger than the battle over transporting crude from the oil-shale fields of Canada? How about drilling right here in the United States?

For the moment let’s forget about the Canadian pipeline and focus on the needs of the United States. Why would we want to ship American dollars over the border, when we can spend them right here?

The United States has plenty of oil reserves in this country that can be accessed far easier and quicker than battling over a 3,456 mile long pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. We have proven reserves in the Gulf, off both coasts and within the lower 48 states.

We have proven oil shale reserves in Colorado that total 1.5 trillion barrels. Why aren’t we exploiting this source of crude oil that in some places is just 1,000 feet below the desert floor? Because the lands are under the control of the Federal Government and the anti-drilling crowd in Washington.

Oil shale reserves in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah amount to as much as 2 trillion barrels of crude. If we can only recover half of it we would still have three times as much oil as Saudi Arabia.

The oil shale reserves in the West is no big secret. In fact, in the 1920s, thousands of so-called “oil placer claims” were filed on public lands following a rules change by the federal government that allowed private companies to lease government-managed land and extract the natural resources there.

The artificial excluding of vast parts of the United States from any type of drilling is endangering our national security. Our offshore drilling has been confined mostly to the Gulf of Mexico with some older platforms off the California coast.  But we have vast potential oil reserves off of either coast.

The state of California with their NIMBY (not in my back yard) approach to energy consumes vast quantities. Yet, the state has prohibited offshore drilling since the Santa Barbara channel blowout over 42 years ago. Yes, accidents can happen but with proper safety controls and rigorous inspections oil spills can be avoided. Let’s face it, apparently BP and their contractors were at fault in the Gulf and they are paying billions because of it.

Currently, a number of East Coast states would love to drill in state waters in order to reap the financial benefits and help balance their budgets. The Federal government and the extreme environmentalists are massive roadblocks.

The current administration believes that all of America’s energy needs can be satisfied with renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal. Yet, we still don’t have the generating capacity to satisfy more than 15% of our electricity demands.

If you have seen the Nissan Leaf electric car commercials then you need to ask the following question. Where is all of that electricity going to come from? In the United States, electricity generation comes from a variety of sources. Renewable energy sources, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric, account for 9.4% while 90.6% is a mix of coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power.

Don’t be fooled by the political wrangling over the Keystone XL Pipeline. When you fill up your car and the price per gallon is in the $3.50 range, you need to realize that it’s so unnecessary. We’re shipping an ocean of American dollars out of this country when we could be spending that money right here to help America. It’s as if we’re burning up those dollars.