Gilmore Wants Drilling in Alaska
As gasoline prices soared to record levels today, Republican U.S. Senate candidate James S. Gilmore (R) embraced drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
"If not now, when?" Gilmore asked in a statement. "We must make America energy independent and obtaining energy production from the vast reserves in [the refuge] is a solid first step in that direction."
Gilmore, who is fighting Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) for the GOP nomination, has also endorsed proposals to increase use of nuclear power and build more domestic oil refineries. The likely Democratic nominee for Senate, former governor Mark R. Warner, has made changes in the nation's energy policy one of his top campaign issues.
Gilmore questioned Warner's commitment to the issue.
"Where does Mark Warner stand on finding ways to immediately address our country's need to increase domestic oil production?" Gilmore asked. "If Mark Warner is serious about making the U.S. more energy dependent, he needs to step up and support increased domestic oil production through the development of the [refuge]."
Environmentalists fiercely oppose drilling in the refuge, saying it is a fragile ecosystem that could be severely affected by even the slightest disturbance or oil leak.
Kevin Hall, a Warner spokesman, said Warner wants more investment in environmentally-friendly green technologies, such as solar and wind power and alternative fuels.
"Remarkably, Mr. Gilmore's energy plan recycles the same failed policies of the past," Hall said. "Drilling for oil in ANWR makes little sense when our focus instead should be on harnessing the potential of renewable energy sources."
By TimCraig |
March 10, 2008; 1:08 PM ET
| Category:
James Gilmore III
,
Tim Craig
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Next: Gilmore Lines Up Support But Ignores Marshall
Posted by: Stop Meddling | March 10, 2008 1:29 PM
Before we drill in Alaska, let's drill a test hole in Gilmore's head to ascertain if there's anything in there.
Posted by: Sasquatch | March 10, 2008 11:31 PM
If the Post is monitoring this blog, I hope that they'll remove Sasquatch's Mom's comment. Either that, or redact the last word. I find it, even with the "cute" misspelling, offensive.
Posted by: Offened | March 11, 2008 5:47 PM
It isn't just foreign oil that's the problem.
It's the fact that our energy policy is in the hands of people (the "energy" companies) that include the sort of incompetents who actually managed to go bamkrupt at Enron. Also those (Cheney and Bush) who had Enron management experts help them draft an energy plan.
There is actually enough energy potential in the nuclear waste plutonium from our Cold War "investments" and the inevitable plutonium produced by our out-of-date proprietarily owned reactors, to provide energy for the next hundred years without ANY mining. It was called the Integral Fast Reactor project, at Argonne National Labs, and it proved it was immune to the blunders that happened at Chernobyl and TMI.
But Bill Clinton's democratic administration killed it, --the best and easiest option for curbing the power of Big Oil.
With a nationally-owned nuclear energy producing Authority, like TVA and the Bonneville Authority, we could lead the world - even the French - in finding a way to fuel our profligate energy habits.
Or we could try more car pooling, or the most efficient solar-powered transportation alternative known, i.e. the bicycle. You eat your corn flakes, oats or wheat, hop on your bike, and in this town at rush hour you can ride seven or eight miles as quickly as you can go by car. I've done it.
Posted by: Albert Rogers | March 14, 2008 6:33 PM
drill all their heads open and let their brains splatter out upon the floor like cream of wheat
Posted by: sasqatch | March 17, 2008 12:34 PM
if you drill my head open all you will find is poo
Posted by: Offened | March 19, 2008 4:18 PM
thats why i cant spell
Posted by: Offened | March 19, 2008 5:54 PM
i read your guyses web page all the time and i hate how you have to scim and scan for what you want, make more "to the point."
Posted by: stacy | May 9, 2008 8:36 AM
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Alaskans Want Drilling in Alaska