Hats off to the Post-Gazette for seeing through the push by President Bush and John McCain to promote offshore oil drilling ("Feeding an Addiction" June 19).
Aside from the obvious environmental threats posed by drilling for
oil in the waters off America's coasts, this proposal doesn't even add
up from an economic perspective. Even President Bush's own Energy
Information Administration says drilling in currently protected
offshore areas would not significantly affect domestic oil production
until 2030 and the impact on pump prices would be "insignificant."
Instead of threatening pristine coastal areas and continuing our
reliance on polluting energy sources, the United States needs to
produce cars that go farther on a gallon of gas, invest more in public
transportation and alternatives to driving, and develop clean,
renewable energy sources. These policies will lower energy costs,
reduce dependence on foreign oil and make necessary cuts in global
warming pollution.
NATHAN WILLCOX
Energy and Clean Air Advocate
PennEnvironment
Philadelphia
