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Today's Poll: Is it possible for the U.S. to become energy independent?

By Howard B. Owens
Sam Tambe Jr.

Open up the protected land area in Alaska for oil drilling (oil companies working with appointed enviromental specialists), start using our over abundant clean coal resources and allow shale Natural gas development and we would be well on our way.

Aug 17, 2012, 10:50am Permalink
Jason Brunner

Whether I think it's possible to be done or whether it will ever actually be done are two different questions altogether. I think it's 100% possible and not even that hard, but there are way too many politicians throwing out road blocks to actually accomplish anything. We have to get out of our own way first.

Aug 17, 2012, 1:43pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

We have the largest reserve of both coal and natural gas in the world bar none. Our nuclear power knowledge is by far superior to most countries in the world.

A with the development of shale technology (Fracking) we actually have a competative amount of usuable crude to the Mid East.

The only thing in our way is politics and EXTREME environmentalism

Aug 17, 2012, 1:19pm Permalink
Tim Howe

The most logical way to answer this question is with another question.

Is it possible for the U.S to abolish GREED?

Answer my question and it will lead you to the answer to Howards question. :(

Aug 17, 2012, 5:29pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Not with job killing Obama as president. He has effectively killed the coal industry and has bashed drilling for oil including killing the Keystone pipeline. Great job, BO!

Aug 18, 2012, 9:23am Permalink
Mark Brudz

Actually Tim, 2010 Price Waterhouse Coopers study states U.S. coal mining accounted for more than 154,000 direct and 555,000 total jobs in 2008 during the depths of the recession. This peaked to 155,000 jobs in the first quarter of the Obama Administration and began a slow decline since. That decline has begun to increase in scope and strength in the last 12 months new EPA regulations began to go into effect.

While what you say is true, it is has nothing to do with the coal industry rebounding in any way shape or form.In fact it shows atrend in the oppopsite direction.

Aug 19, 2012, 7:27pm Permalink
Tim Miller

Mark - thanks for the info. I had heard the statistic of more employment in the coal industry on a radio news show (a reliable one, not a hyper-partisan hack from either side). Like any single statistical figure, is was a snapshot.

@Doug - that "job killing president" has added more jobs in his term than the previous president did in two terms.

Aug 29, 2012, 11:21am Permalink

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