The United States is losing the war for energy independence.
During a roundtable discussion Monday as part of a Government
Outreach program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford,
experts in the petrochemical, political and environmental fields
debated the future of the country’s energy policy, which relies
heavily on foreign governments as a source of oil and places the
nation at a strategic disadvantage with the rest of the world.
“Energy security is the number one issue facing America,” said
U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., who holds the annual program for
high school students from across the region. “We are going down the
wrong road at a very fast pace. In a short period of time, we have
become dependent on foreign governments very far from here, some of
which don’t like us.
“There needs to be an energy policy that protects America.”
Peterson, who is at the forefront of a debate on Capitol Hill
which calls for unlocking a vital supply of oil and natural gas
reserves in the Outer Continental Shelf, said the country needs to
look inward to resolve its energy problems, adding the U.S.
currently buys oil from countries in the Middle East that support
terrorism.
“Terrorism and oil energy are mixed,” Peterson said, noting
there is no “silver bullet” available. “I find it astounding we
don’t have a coherent energy policy.”
That is where natural gas steps in, according to Peterson. The
lawmaker said a majority of industrialized countries across the
globe pay less for natural gas than the U.S.
“For five years in a row, the U.S. has had the highest natural
gas prices in the world,” Peterson said. “Companies are moving out
because of that. If we don’t watch out, the American working person
won’t have a good job anymore.”
Peterson said residents don’t need to look any further than
their neighbor to the north, Canada.
“Canada produces natural gas in Lake Erie every day and then
sells it to us,” Peterson said. “Natural gas can get us to where we
need to be if we don’t want to drastically reduce the American
economy.”
The threat also comes from India and China, which are
challenging the U.S. for energy sources. Last year alone, China
increased its oil capacity by more than 15 percent.
Officials said when looking for solutions, everything should be
on the table.
“The politics of energy has changed dramatically,” Dr. Stephen
Robar, who teaches a course in environmental politics and policy at
Pitt-Bradford, said. “Energy has definitely moved up the public’s
salience measure.”
Robar said the country is now looking at energy as a security
issue – from both natural disasters and terrorism.
“We are addicted to oil, but can’t disengage from that industry
anytime in the near future.”
According to Jesse Skinner, manager of government relations for
the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, which includes
the American Refining Group as a member, the petrochemical industry
has $200 billion in annual sales, noting natural gas serves as the
major feedstock for refineries.
Skinner said the rising cost of natural gas has pushed some
petrochemical manufacturers overseas, noting the lockdown on
drilling has helped spur that movement.
“Environmental policy is energy policy,” Skinner said, noting of
41 ethanol plants set to be built in the world, a majority will be
located in the Middle East – none in America.
Drilling and environmental awareness have been historically
intertwined, however.
For Jeff Schmidt of the Sierra Club, government has become
wasteful in its energy use.
“Increasing the natural gas supply will do nothing to reduce the
cost of transportation issues,” Schmidt said, adding government
doesn’t do enough to regulate the energy industry.
Schmidt cited numerous examples of environmental calamities that
have resulted from industrial development, including acid rain, oil
spills and nuclear waste, in addition to the growing threat from
global warming.
“Global warming is a debate we should be having, but we also
need to look at biomass and ethanol, among other sources,” Peterson
said.
According to Larry Lepidi, the director of law and government
affairs for Joy Mining Machinery, part of the onus lies with the
American public.
“It all starts with us,” Lepidi said. “We can buy more fuel
efficient cars on the market now. We need to look at what we can do
today to help ease the burden.”
Peterson said that’s where natural gas can fill the demand for
environmentally-friendly energy.
“Natural gas is the clean fuel,” Peterson said, noting there has
never been a natural gas spill reported in the country.
New sources of energy production are needed, according to
Skinner.
“Drilling off the coastline is not completely void of risks, but
it’s worth the positive impact we can have on our economy,” Skinner
said.
