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On Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:54:02 -0400, "leo...@primus.ca" <...@primus.ca
Gov. Sarah Palin is a rising political star in
Alaska, with an 84% approval rating. A
strong advocate of opening her state to more
oil drilling, she recently spoke with IBD.
Alaska's 'Frustrated' Governor Palin
On Our 'Nonsensical' Energy Policy
Friday, July 11, 2008 4:20 PM PT
IBD: Alaska was bought by the U.S. from Russia
in 1867 specifically to ensure a supply of natural
resources. How do Alaskans feel about the
opposition from politicians representing the lower
48 to drilling for oil there?
Palin: Alaskans are frustrated because there is
opposition in Congress to developing our vast
amount of natural resources. We want to contribute
more to the rest of the United States. We want to
help secure the United States, and help us get off
this reliance of foreign sources of energy.
It's a very nonsensical position we're in right now.
We send President Bush and Secretary (of Energy
Sam) Bodman overseas to ask the Saudis to ramp
up production of crude oil so that hungry markets
in America can be fed, (and) your sister state in
Alaska has those resources. But these lands are
locked up by Congress, and we are not allowed to
drill to the degree America needs the development.
When we became a state 50 years ago, we struck a
deal with the federal government where we said,
"Let us in a union where we will be as self-
sufficient as possible." And the federal government
said, "Come in, you'll be our 49th state, and you'll
do it by developing your God-given resources."
Fifty years later . . . we're living up to our end of
the bargain, and now we need the rest of the U.S.
to live up to their end of the bargain, to lead
America toward energy independence. Alaska
should be the leader of an energy policy that gets
us there.
IBD: Why does Alaska find it so hard to be
listened to? The state's senators have tried many
times to get legislation through that would allow
drilling, and they've been shot down every time
Palin: There are great misconceptions about the
developments up here. Take ANWR. The
misperception is that this is a huge swath of
pristine land, full of mountains and rivers and
wildlife. Those are the pictures seen on TV. But
what we're talking about with ANWR is a 2,000
acre plot of land that is a smaller footprint than
LAX or big airports outside Alaska.
It's not mountainous, and there aren't rivers
flowing through it. So even the perception of
what ANWR would entail is wrong, and we
need to correct that.
But even more important than explaining the
geography and physical aspects of this plot of
land is that I have to show that Alaska will have
the prudent oversight that Alaskans and Americans
will expect as we develop our natural resources.
Here in Alaska we love our clean air and our clean
water and our abundant wildlife. We will protect
Alaska. I'm a Republican, and when I got elected,
some accused me of being anti-development. I
created a new office to just concentrate on
oversight of resource development on the North
Slope.
We're putting our money where our mouth is.
We're budgeting for strict oversight so we can
prove to the rest of the U.S. that we will have safe,
clean developments and will do this responsibly
(and) ethically.
IBD:
Does the rest of the U.S. have reason to doubt you?
Palin:
In the past, Alaska's reputation didn't lead the rest
of America to believe we were adamant about safe,
clean, responsible development here.
I say that because we had legislators who are now
serving prison time because they were found guilty
of being corrupted for their votes on oil and gas
taxes by oil and gas industry players. That
reputation has really hurt Alaska, and it's no
wonder that some have not wanted to believe that
we are opening a new chapter in Alaska's life.
IBD: What's your best assessment of Alaska's
ongoing oil and gas potential and especially how
much can be gotten from ANWR?
Palin: There are billions of barrels of oil underneath
the ground up there on the North Slope including
ANWR. In Alaska alone we can supply seven years
`of complete crude-oil independence, and eight
years' supply of natural gas for Americans with
ANWR (and) other areas of Alaska that we want to
allow for development. That's proof that Alaska can
be a significant player in the world market.
IBD: How long will it take to develop these areas?
Critics say five to 10 years.
Palin: ANWR would take five years to begin
providing crude oil to our pipeline. But you have to
consider that if we'd started this five years ago, then
we wouldn't be in this position right now. And who
knows where we're going to be in another five years.
There are even bigger sources of crude than ANWR
. . . such as offshore areas like the Chukchi Sea and
Beaufort Sea. Congress can help us with those areas
right now, bringing even more energy than ANWR
and bringing it quicker.
We frequently find ourselves at the mercy of those
who think that we must be protected from ourselves.
Shell is up here wanting to drill offshore, but they've
been fighting various environmental groups through
the 9th Circuit Court and are running into very
fierce pushback. In this area, Congress could help us
with the development and bring those sources of
energy to market quicker than ANWR.
IBD: Some politicians and presidential candidates
say we can't drill our way out of our energy problem
and that drilling in ANWR will have no effect.
What's your best guess of the impact on prices?
Palin: I beg to disagree with any candidate who
would say we can't drill our way out of our
problem or that more supply won't ultimately affect
prices. Of course it will affect prices. Energy a
global market, it's impossible to venture a guess on
(specific) prices. We never would have thought oil
would reach $140. Only a few months ago, we
thought $100 would be the peak. And here it is at
$140 (with) no end in sight.
It's very difficult to determine, but we do know the
demand is going to continue to increase. The
demand in Asia especially is one reason why
prices are going to increase. But if I could predict
energy prices, I wouldn't be sitting here today.
IBD: How serious is the threat to development
posed by designation of the polar bear as an
endangered species?
Palin: We believe that listing polar bears as such is
a significant threat to development, because most
live on the North Slope. (But) the biggest problem
with the ruling is that we are the only state that is
impacted. Most polar bears (are found) in Canada.
We've got other places in the world once again
telling us Alaskans how to live, and whether we
can develop.
We've coexisted with bears for decades to no
detrimental effect. Our bear population is thriving.
This listing is nothing but interference from
outsiders who insist on keeping Alaska from
developing our resources responsibly. I tell you,
if we thought we were killing a speciesin this
case, the polar bear we would mend our ways.
You have to remember, our native culture is
paramount to the Alaska way of life. My husband
is native, my kids are native. We have such respect
for native culture, and the polar bear is part of it.
We can develop and take care of animals, and
we'll continue to do both.
IBD: What about the impact of development on
caribou and other wildlife?
Palin: There are magnificent caribou and wolves
and bears and porcupines and birds all through
Alaska. You can see them thriving today as you
could in the 1960s, before pipelines were built.
Talk about coexistence: We've got grizzlies
roaming on the pipeline, and caribou migrations
passing underneath it.
When people visit Prudhoe Bay on the North
Slope, they appreciate how Alaska's resources go
from the ground to the pipeline to the lower 48.
But they also get to learn about Arctic wildlife,
because it's right there, it's thriving, and we work
hard to responsibly develop resources so that will
always be the case. Our mantra is develop
responsibly. And as governor, I have to do more
than talk. I have to walk the walk.
IBD: You're proposing to give each Alaskan
$1,200 to offset high energy costs.
How can you do that?
Palin: It's a plan that I'm bringing to our lawmakers
because we do have an energy crisis and it's
ridiculous that we do. Alaskans are paying the
highest costs to fill up their vehicles and heat their
houses and businesses. Yet we're the ones with the
resources. We own the resources as individuals'
pocketbooks are shrinking.
Our state government coffers are bursting at the
seams because 85% to 90% of our budget comes
from oil and gas developments. So I'm saying we
have a surplus, so give the surplus back to the
people. Legislators are now . . . considering that.
I also proposed eliminating the gas tax levied on
consumers some years ago. Some legislators
would say they can find a place to spend it, and I'm
sure (they) could. But I would rather those dollars
also go back to the consumers.
IBD: Have you had inquiries about developing and
managing energy resources from other states?
Palin: Well, one big piece of all this we haven't
spoken of is building a natural gas pipeline. It's
about a $30 billion project we're proposing right
now . . . to feed hungry markets. As Alaska
approaches 50-year statehood, my promise is
that we contribute to the rest of the country. I
don't want us to be seen as takers. And as we
supply 20% of domestic crude oil to the rest of
the United States, I want to ramp that up by
supplying Alaskan natural gas that can flow
through a pipeline we are proposing.
IBD: Do you have any thoughts about being
named as a vice presidential candidate?
Palin: I think that any kind of national profile, if
there is any elevation of that, it's for Alaska itself.
People are looking up here (and saying) we need
you as leaders for energy policy. We have a
willingness to develop responsibly and supply the
rest of the United States, and that's why we are
being looked at. I just happen to be in a position of
leadership where I get drawn into that.
As for vice president, it would be certainly an
exciting thing to consider, but to me it's so
farfetched and out there that I don't spend any time
thinking about it because we have so many things
to do in Alaska.
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