Editorial in today's paper on energy reveals again this countries vast resources

[Guest]

that are very purposefully being ignored. Here is the link to the originating article:

http://prairiepundit.blogspot.com/2011/12/government-and-anti-energy-left-thwart.html

How can our government in good conscience bow down to a special interest group at the expense of doing what is right for the American people and the good of the country?

The pursuit of America's energy resources in and of itself contains the answer to so many of America's problems, yet our government and we the people allow it to go on being ignored, why?

btk

[Guest]

that are very purposefully being ignored. Here is the link to the originating article:

http://prairiepundit.blogspot.com/2011/12/government-and-anti-energy-left-thwart.html

How can our government in good conscience bow down to a special interest group at the expense of doing what is right for the American people and the good of the country?

The pursuit of America's energy resources in and of itself contains the answer to so many of America's problems, yet our government and we the people allow it to go on being ignored, why?

btk

As a resident of Colorado for 40+ years I actually know a little about this subject. Right now I am in my home in Colorado Springs, and I wish I had stayed in TV, which is located in El Paso County. What sits under us is one of the fields of oil shale linked in this editorial. AKA Niobraba.....oil leases are selling like hotcakes out here.....

But Colorado has seen this before, out on the Western slope, actually we have been victims more than 1 boom and bust oil shale cycle. So I will present several links regarding that....

http://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/colorado-oil-shale/711
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_16711142

The other thing you need to understand is oil shale doesn't produce tight oil like the oil sands in Canada. It also cannot be developed into gas for cars. Also it is not like you can drill into a pool of this stuff. You need to break up the rock and until now heat the rock until it releases a vapor and then process that. Now there is a new process called fracking which can breakup the rock in the ground releasing the natural gas contained in the rock.
Fracking is an issue..... as the fuild has contaminated ground water here in Colorado when used in national gas production.

So here are a few links regarding that....

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_8b356b72-f2a3-5516-9f80-9d4427337020.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/07/13/america-s-untapped-oil.html

So it is not so easy as presented in your document. Just saying.

[Guest]

thanks cologal,most of the time it's not as cut and dry as we think.

[Guest]

we ALL know it is not cut and dry...or as simple as some would allude....or it takes years to do...or any of the other impediments to get an initiative underway.

How about just acknowledging the potential to do better is right here in the USA and we are not pursuing it.

Even with our current dependency and lower than normal demand the US companies are exporting the oil and the gasoline made from oil being imported. Good business decision. Very bad/stupid strategy for the needs of we the people.

The thrust of the article is we are not pursuing any actions that will sever our dependency.

Forty years ago we imported 50% of the oil we used...today we are at over 70%.

Business as usual in Washington. And apathy as usual among Americans on the subject....for now. I guess we will just have to wait for a crisis to get off the dime on energy.

btk

[Guest]

billy,I'm sorry to say even a crisis will not help. You were around when the Arabs shut down the pumps. I know some will not like this but just follow the money to D.C.and see how much big oil pays to our reps and sanators in line.

[Guest]

we ALL know it is not cut and dry...or as simple as some would allude....or it takes years to do...or any of the other impediments to get an initiative underway.

How about just acknowledging the potential to do better is right here in the USA and we are not pursuing it.

Even with our current dependency and lower than normal demand the US companies are exporting the oil and the gasoline made from oil being imported. Good business decision. Very bad/stupid strategy for the needs of we the people.

The thrust of the article is we are not pursuing any actions that will sever our dependency.

Forty years ago we imported 50% of the oil we used...today we are at over 70%.

Business as usual in Washington. And apathy as usual among Americans on the subject....for now. I guess we will just have to wait for a crisis to get off the dime on energy.

btk

BTK...It is curious to me that when I was playing Mexican Train with my neighbors last Saturday night someone brought this very subject up. And now it shows up as an editorial. Seems like a Republican talking point in development.

Nonetheless, I will answer your question....We do need to develop alternatives to foreign oil? We can agree on that, yes we do. However, the premise of this editorial is false…”US oil resources are larger than Saudi Arabia. First no one knows how large Saudi Arabia’s oil reserves really are and then to portray the potential oil shale fields as equivalent is clearly untrue. I know that Sec. of the Interior Salazar is reviewing these oil shale leases and has revoked, what appeared to some, the sweetheart deals extended by the previous administration.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125606583982497043.html

Can we domestically drill our way out of this, I don’t agree on that. We need to look at and invest in many options now instead of later.