Climate Change Bill Meets ‘Drill, Baby Drill’
21 10 2009As we begin to look past the immediate future in which the laser focus of the nation’s capital still points squarely on health care reform, we see another giant looming. The climate change bill is standing in line, ready to step in as soon as a health care reform bill is passed.
If the insurance companies seem to be an unbeatable foe, and the health care debate appears insurmountable, what can we expect when we try to get everyone on board with meaningful climate change legislation? The answer is that if health care goes badly, we can expect climate change to go badly too. Why? Because Republicans will unite in opposition first, before the conversation even starts. It’s their strategy and they’re sticking with it.
On a national level it is Republicans, for the most part that are explicitly tied to oil and coal. Liberal Democrats “get it” and in their hearts they want to make meaningful change, but the new “spirit of bipartisanship” that has been embraced by this administration, and the party means that they are willing to compromise. Blue Dogs and “conservadems” represent the balance of power in DC. This group, unlike the rabid science deniers like James Inhofe R-(OK) know that climate change is real, and they know it’s a good idea to do something about it. The problem from an environmental perspective is that they think there’s no reason policy shouldn’t be written by corporate America, and be designed to protect and benefit their interests.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in Alaska. Senator Lisa Murkowski is on the left side of the Republican spectrum. Senator Mark Begich is on the right side of the Democratic spectrum. Even though the bright line of partisanship separates the two, they are not as far apart as they sometimes seem. Their loyalties lie with the state of Alaska and all its exceptional and unique circumstances. And certainly anyone who feels like getting re-elected in Alaska must be willing to wear the “pro-development” label.
The Alaskan economy is bound tightly with oil. Oil has been our sugar daddy, and has allowed the Alaskan economy to grow and prosper. Oil interests have sidled their way into our political life, sometimes in the form of cash for votes, sometimes more subtly. The symbiotic relationship between the land, its resources, its elected officials, and the private companies who we allow to remove the resources is a complicated one.
Ironically, Alaska’s vast petroleum and coal reserves rest below the surface of the very arctic terrain that is threatened by the climate change that is caused by the burning of the fossil fuels. As the arctic ice melts, new shipping lanes are opened up making transportation of the product easier and more economic. Karma is not supposed to work like that, but there you have it.
And with the ice goes the polar bears, the walruses, 10,000 years of indigenous culture, permafrost and everything built on it, glaciers and their stores of fresh water ice, coastal communities, and a fragile ecosystem that cannot be gotten back in our lifetime, and perhaps lifetimes after that. Ocean acidification is another byproduct of burning fossil fuel that threatens not only the fishing industry, but the precious marine life that covers 70% of our planet.
Those of us in the arctic are on the front lines of the climate battle, and we see firsthand every day that we are losing, and losing big. Elders in villages who have watched the weather and water their entire lives, and hold generational memories have seen this coming for a long time. We wave our hands and try to shout over the din of the drills, and the voices of our politicians telling us that we can’t do anything that might disrupt oil and gas exploration, or mining of metals and coal. At this very moment, the almighty dollar of course is more important than the almighty planet. Trying to get people to give up anything today, or embrace radical change today, because of what is coming tomorrow is a major challenge.
Alaska is in a powerful position in the climate debate. We not only have the credibility that comes from being on the front lines, we have two centrist senators who are willing to play ball.
So, what will it take to get their support? The answer is simple and ironic – both expanded off-shore drilling on the outer continental shelf of Alaska, and financial assistance from the government to help with the effects of climate change. The Beaufort Sea, The Chukchi Sea; places that most Americans have never heard of may hold the keys to Alaska’s bipartisan support of a climate bill. And Bristol Bay, already threatened by the looming specter of Pebble Mine now must fight a war with two fronts – mining on one side, and offshore drilling on the other.
Dwindling supplies of oil on Alaska’s north slope, and the gas pipeline that seems doomed to stagnation for the foreseeable future have Alaskans a bit panicked. If oil production were to stop cold, Alaska would be a very different place. Certain aspects of the quality of life we enjoy would be diminished, the population of the state would decrease drastically, jobs would evaporate, and the economy would be in a tailspin. Some would not mind a return to the Alaska of old. I know many who speak of the days before the discovery of oil in Prudhoe Bay with wistful longing. But to most Alaskans today it would be a tough sell.
Sarah Palin’s mantra of “Drill Baby, drill!” resonated with Alaskans. Fear of a future without oil has led to this way of thinking, despite the risk and despite the fact that off-shore leases are not on state land, and therefore the benefit to the state and its residents is considerably less.
And so corporate interests continue to pour money into congressional campaigns on both sides of the aisle, and politicians benefit from those contributions. They continue to pour money into the state, which benefits from what those interests bring to the local economy. And when all is said and done, there are essentially no political consequences for opposing real reform. And there’s the problem in a very large nut shell.
We learned this week that the Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service has conditionally approved Shell’s plan to explore two oil leases in the Beaufort Sea. Alaska’s two senators are both happy. They both look forward to continuing to work with the administration. They are both encouraged by “responsible exploration.” They are both hopeful that this means we’ll soon be exploring leases in the Chukchi Sea.
Nobody is in favor of “irresponsible development.” But nobody seems to want to tackle the issue of whether responsible development in the areas being discussed is even possible. Imagine trying to clean up an oil spill like the Exxon Valdez, only in the middle of a sea of floating ice. Talk like that starts to make people uncomfortable. Environmental groups may sue to stop it. And so fear will continue to inform this debate – fear of economic ruin vs. fear of environmental ruin. And Alaska may drill its way into supporting a climate change bill.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:49 AM
“Certain aspects of the quality of life we enjoy would be diminished, the population of the state would decrease drastically, jobs would evaporate, and the economy would be in a tailspin.”
Look at the Las Vegas, Florida, Detroit and the Inland Empire/Central Valley areas of CA to see what an economic tail spin is.
Don’t shoot yourselves in the foot, AK. You look like you are headed that way.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:52 AM
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect. ~Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac
October 21st, 2009 at 10:03 AM
One of my favorites, Bill Nye the Science Guy, is becoming more involved with environmental issues. He has calculated the number of jobs created in alternative energies as being high enough to put a huge dent in the unemployment rates. I know the president spoke of this during the campaign, I just wish we could get it going before we find ourselves in another big ‘Valdez’ type of situation. We can’t fight big oil unless there is an alternative that not only is better for the environment but hits the majority of American workers where it counts- in their wallets.
October 21st, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Great read. Planet First…
October 21st, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Son-the-first-born..works within a community college green energy..program. One..of the reasons..is as he was being birth’d..and raised..he was being taken into the land..at every moment possible. His first college degree was in Geography. He learned living ..With the land..not seeing the land as profit-wh—-g…potential. Best those in Alaska..listen well to those who live a ..modest life there. We were all carried in waters of the womb..and waters of this planet..we must note.. and understand..and..cherish with..our total ..Life Choices. Some around this country..would truely sell their human birth mother..for personal gain. Many more..are quite willing to sell their Earth Mother..for captivating tubes of designer creams n cosmetics, personal painted professional nails with applied rhinestones, or designer jeans..and an expensive Latte. Assorted spas, and club memberships..oh yes..would just die..without them. Look at how popular..inside the homes of america (where no one else can see)..are the tv program soaps and ..near-soaps of evening time. Lust and luxery ..SELL! So then..do not go..sign a petiton….later today..watch ..Your hand..and..where you direct your..remote..ok? yes this wanders..but..there is..a point.., think..as you traverse the harsh..’thought-scape’.
October 21st, 2009 at 10:50 AM
There is a constant oil sheen on Cook Inlet. They can’t even drill safely in the Cook Inlet that doesn’t have icebergs.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I’ll never forget taking the tour of Prince William Sound near Valdez, oh about 1987. “The safeguards cannot fail, and safety is paramount at all times,” said the enthusiastic guide. “No, there could never be a spill here.” We watched the sea otters and seals playing in the clear water.
October 21st, 2009 at 1:48 PM
sorry, this may sound harsh……Alaskans and Alaska’s economy are addicted to oil, the oil companies are the drug lords. Get help. Seek treatment. You are in denial. Addicts self destruct and cause much harm to those around them.
Seriously though, we are all enablers in this illness. I so wish we’d get over and beyond our need of oil.
And I agree with you AKM, the repubs will try to get out ahead of this and drop damage bombs of fear and mongering.
Writers need to get positive optimistic green articles in the papers, backed by scientific studies. They seek to brainwash with lies, we can inform with truths. People need to know their a alternatives, they need to see this more in the news. So those who can, please do.
I have no clue how it works. But all of us can gather and offer ideas for submissions. I know MO has at least one very successful wind project. And Alaska has Chenea Hot springs, that is an amazing story, they’re plugging away every year going forward with new ideas. They deserve a lot of credit for vision, hard work. They deserve national attention in every state and city.
If we do a lot of these articles is will poke holes in their BS.
Another area to get more out there is the awful environmental scares, if people want something to fear, that’s real! The WV coal spill comes to mind. The Canadian Tar Sands is another. Get the main stream on the right side of fear and we may have a whole lot more real activists with facts, not spoon fed hate spewing ignorant tea baggers. Show the ugly side of big corporation greed and dirty energy. Main street needs to wake up, see the problems and solutions and understand the need for change. They need to be educated. It’s ugly unpleasant stuff that people don’t want to think about, but point out the obvious, what has to has to happen.
This has gone on long enough, it’s just like the dang auto industry that drug their feet from the 70’s till now, allowing themselves to become dinosaurs who drink oil like vampires, they deserved extinction, they had to be forced by legislation to make any change for the better. There are lots of cutting edge stories about transportation, and it’s not just battery operated cars stupid Scarah.
Let’s do our own getting in front of the Repubs., generate interest, educate, share.
We can do this. Work towards a group shift. Take articles to work to share with co-workers, talk about forward thinking possibilities around the drink fountain, at breaks and lunch, bulletin boards. Try to leave politics out of it. Let the Repubs shoot themselves in the foot, just like the rape vote, they’re stupid enough, most are old fools. How do they think that rape vote is going to work for them in elections?
this is a perfect example of what I’m trying to convey……this small town is now building a visitor center to handle the curious and interested. This will be a tourism business in itself. Others will spring off it. They sell excess power to an electric coop. This is a good write up of just one successful wind farm here in MO. Sadly it has only one comment. See? It appears there are about 5 more in the works, a big one to be finished next spring.
http://www.hpj.com/archives/2009/jul09/jul27/windfarmfeaturedr.cfm
” Busloads of senior citizens and school children from Kansas City and the surrounding area have already made trips to King City. Waltemath said King City is a small town with only two restaurants.
“We are not set up to handle 200 people for lunch,” Waltemath said.
Eight of the 27 Suzlon S-88 wind turbines on the wind farm are on land owned by Mike Waltemath, his brother and his sister. In fact, Wind Capital Group, which built the wind farm, asked Waltemath to talk with area farmers to see who might be interested in having a wind generator on their property. Waltemath said the majority of landowners were interested in the wind farm project and wanted to be involved. Most of those who did not want a tower on their property were not against wind energy; they just did not want to be part of the project for one reason or another.
The process
The whole process went much faster than they imagined it would. It was only about a year and a half from the time they first started talking about it until the towers were up and running. ” (lots more good stuff, go read it, and comment.)
October 21st, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Sa No we need more of these projects.I jusy read where a factory here will be revamped to beging making these in the near future