Here is my article, "Using less, producing more U.S. energy" which appeared in today's 4/11/12 Tri-County Press:
Using less, producing more U.S. energy
A lot of oil produced in the U.S. gets refined into gasoline in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The gasoline then goes into pipelines for distribution.
The U.S. is now producing more gasoline than it needs.
So what's the problem?
The pipelines out of the Southern refineries are too few.
Robert Smith, an analyst at PFC Energy, said, "These pipelines are essentially filled to the brim and yet the East Coast market still doesn't have enough gasoline. So they're forced to import."
The U.S. is exporting a record amount of gasoline.
U.S. oil production is at an eight year high.
Any notion that production has been blocked or slowed doesn't square with the facts.
Oil is bought and sold in a world market. Instability in the Middle East causes oil futures to shoot up and higher prices at the gas pump. We have seen this movie before; it happens every single time.
Some politicians have disingenuously promised $2.50 gasoline - having us believe that if we just drilled more for oil, then gas prices would immediately drop.
The problem is America uses 20% of the world's oil. We have only 2% of the world's known oil reserves.
In addition, a drill for 2% and buy 20% strategy alone, ignores the fact that rapidly growing China and India are buying cars - that means the cost of gas will rise. In 2010, China alone added 10 million cars. That's just in one year.
We can't drill our way out of this problem.
President Obama stated, "We can't have an energy strategy from the last century that traps us in the past."
In the near term, the U.S. will continue to rely on responsible production of oil and gas. But over the long term, the Obama administration is committed to transitioning the U.S. from oil towards cleaner alternatives and energy efficiency.
The Obama administration's energy strategy for the future:
•Develop every source of American made energy.
•Develop as much oil and gas as possible - in a way that protects the health, safety, and natural resources of the American people. (U.S. natural gas production is at the highest level in more than 30 years. The Obama Administration's 2012-2017 Offshore Oil and Gas Development Program will make available more than 75% of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. And, we have joined with Mexico agreeing to make more than 1.5 million acres in Gulf exploration available - an estimated 172 million barrels of oil and 304 billion cubic feet of natural gas.)
•Develop Wind and Solar Power and Biofuels. (Clean energy use has doubled during the Obama administration.)
•Develop more energy efficient homes and buildings.
•Develop more energy efficient vehicles. (Fuel economy standards established by the Obama administration will have cars and trucks averaging 55 miles per gallon - reducing oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day.)
Instead of distorting facts, and presenting complete falsehoods for short term political gains, President Obama is offering America a real, sustainable energy future.
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school, and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is currently neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com)
In addition, here is a link to article on line:
http://communitypress.cincinnati.com/article/C2/20120404/VAV02/304040001/Using-less-producing-more-U-S-energy
