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Drilling in ANWR: What's Not to Like?

Brian27 hits the nail on the head with the closest description of a comprehensive energy plan which will wean us off of oil dependence in the long run. Drill ANWR and the Outer coastal shelf. Assess a tax on the oil generated (not a windfall profit tax) and use the proceeds to develop nuclear and renewable energy. On the nuclear front, the plant should be made capable of also producing hydrogen. Use the tax proceeds to build out the infrastructure necessary for hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles which are just right around the corner.

Our current liberal/green politicians hate big oil and want to punish them with a windfall profits tax. All that would do is disincentivize further exploration and development of new reserves. We want them to explore and develop new reserves, then tax and use the proceeds to develop the alternatives.

Of course, this all assumes that the tax proceeds would be used for what they were intended, as opposed to some preferred pork barrel rat hole of the politicians or increased governmental staffing.