Sarah Palin's Energy

Alaska Governor and Republican candidate Sarah Palin is back on the stump. Today, she announced the McCain administration's plan to put her in charge of America's new energy plan. Now I concede that the woman has a high level of energy. I understand that she has an awesome level of ambition and vindictiveness as well. I've heard that Palin can see the Alaskan pipeline from her house so I guess that makes her the best candidate for McCain Energy Czar.

It is no secret that the Republican Party is campaigning for increased offshore oil drilling. But that alone will not fix the energy crisis. Results from offshore drilling will take between 10-15 years. Most of that oil will leave the U.S. In the end, it will save Americans about 5 cents per gallon on gasoline. Right now, the U.S. government owns the oil rights to millions of acres of land across the country. Oil rigs already exist in places on the ranges of Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, but they are sitting idle. The reason? It is not profitable enough. Another critical factor is oil refinery capacity. In recent decades, oil companies have closed oil refineries. Not a single refinery has been built in over 30 years! The lack of refining capacity keeps the prices of oil and gasoline high.

Alaska is a state rich in oil and gas reserves but too poor to pull it out of the ground and move it to ports where it can be shipped to refineries in the lower 48. For the past eight years, the Bush administration has been hammering Congress to open the Alaskan wildlife preserve (ANWR) to oil drilling. Endangered polar bears and pristine wilderness be damned, the Republicans are whipped into an oil drilling frenzy, chanting "Drill, baby, drill!" Bush claims that only a few thousands of acres within the million acre preserve would be affected by the oil industry. He fails to mention that roads and pipelines will be constructed through more of Alaska to connect drilling sites to ports, threatening wildlife, environment, and climate change.

I think it is appropriate to understand Palin's positions and record on the development of oil and alternative fuels. The short growing season in Alaska probably rules out homegrown bio-fuels, but I've read that they grow humongous pumpkins and cabbages. Assuming there are some wicked-kickass winds in Alaska, how does wind energy fit into the Alaskan energy plan? What are Palin's positions on "noo-ku-ler" energy? What does the state of Alaska do with the waste? How about geothermal energy? Solar?

Voters need to hear more about Palin's energy experience. What has she actually accomplished so far? Blaming the media for lack of respect and deference, the McCain campaign shields Palin from unscripted interviews and news conference questions about her policies, record, and experience. During Palin's one and only interview, Charlie Gibson's energy questions were met with exaggerated and distorted resonses. There seems to be a Sarah Palin credibility problem.

As I see it, the selection of Sarah Pain was an obvious pander to the right wing Republican base. Her stands on social issues has thrilled the neo-cons and revived a lack-luster campaign. But, the choice also had much to do with energy policy. Palin is their ticket to gaining access to ANWR. Big oil companies and John McCain's oil lobbyist friends are thrilled to have Palin and Alaskan voters on their side. Imagine how her popularity will skyrocket as Palin brings the energy "bacon" home to Alaska with more federal funds, jobs, and tax rebates!

The Republican conventioneers chanting "Drill, baby, drill" were oilmen and fat cat oil lobbyists speaking firectly to Sarah. They are licking their chops in anticipation of the opportunity to do what oilmen do best. In a McCain-Palin administration, they'll be laughing all the way to the bank. I wonder who will be pulling the strings on the inexperienced, unqualified Energy Queen?Now that's a frightening thought.