To Drill or Not To Drill? It is obvious that the demand for energy and fuel sources is increasing drastically as time goes by. The United States also anticipates an oil demand increase as the population grows over the next few decades (Haug, 2011). Therefore, the big dilemma is whether or not the search for oil on our land should continue. The recent development and expansion of clean energy resources, although expensive, can end the battle over oil deposits and lead the country into a cleaner future.
As I have grown up, I have seen countless news articles and broadcasts about the damage caused by oil drilling accidents, oil spills, and oil transportation leaks. The damage being done to the environment by the search and use of oil paints a vivid and memorable picture in my memory. I live in an area that is vastly populated to the degree that no one can legalize their vehicle unless they first have their emissions tested and approved. Also, throughout my lifetime, there has been talk of running out of oil, supply and demand, and the cost of gasoline.
All of this leads me to believe that clean energy should be the obvious choice. I have a hard time believing that drilling for new sources of oil within our own land is a good idea because water, wind, and solar energy are cleaner to harvest. Although the initial investment is expensive, it is rather cheap to maintain and collect the energy from clean sources. Instead of having to search for oil, it would be simpler to find places to begin harvesting energy from existing rivers, fields, rooftops.
I do not want to consider the alternative of drilling in new places because of all of the risks in entails. If I try to look at our fuel situation by how everyone is affected by the change to clean energy, I may be able to overcome my hindrances. I know that drilling is what we know; it is the way we have fueled almost everything for my entire life and before. I can remind myself that every change takes time and in the meantime, we have to do what we have to do. I can try to change my perception by thinking about the situation from someone else’s perspective.
A family that supports itself by means of the oil industry will not have the same perspective or opinion as me. I do not know all of the details to the opposing opinion and there may be details that would make me more comfortable with searching for new US sites to drill. References Haug, M. (2011, Spring). Clean Energy and International Oil. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 27(1), 92-116. Helm, D. (2011, Spring). Peak Oil and Energy Policy -- A Critigue. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 27(1), 68-91.
