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Unshackle America’s Energy Supplies

A version of this blog post appeared as an action alert for the American Conservative Union.

Why are gas prices so high and unpredictable? Here’s one big but underreported reason: The federal government, which for the past 30 years has been sealing off millions of acres of oil- and gas-laden reserves across the country and offshore, thus decreasing domestic supply.

In other words, the scarcity is not physical but political.

For example, in early September, Chevron discovered a deep-water region in the Gulf of Mexico. As the Wall Street Journal reported, this discovery “could become the nation’s biggest new domestic source of oil since the discovery of Alaska’s North Slope more than a generation ago.” Yet encouraging as this news is, it invites the question, How many other troves are also untapped?

Consider the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), which according to the Department of the Interior contains enough natural gas (420 trillion cubic feet) to heat 100 million homes for 60 years or enough oil (86 billion barrels) to replace current Persian Gulf imports for 59 years. Regulations render 85% of the OCS off-limits. Similarly unavailable are Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Rocky Mountain basins, both of which house huge reserves.

The paradox is particularly destructive because America is rich in both energy sources and the technology necessary to develop them. The only thing standing in the way is an anti-development regulatory regime.

Fortunately, this can change—with your help. The Minerals Management Service (MMS), the government agency responsible for offshore oil and gas leasing, is now accepting comments on where and how often drilling and development should occur in the OCS. MMS designs its plans based on input from the public, so, in partnership with the Consumer Energy Alliance, ACU urges you to voice your opinion today! (The deadline is November 22, 2006.)

The path to an energy-full future liess in unshackling our resources and setting free our finest minds to explore and produce. The results promise abundant supplies, and would herald a renewed commitment to both American independence and to the economic freedom that sustains our strength.

Click here to submit a prepared e-mail to the Minerals Management Service.