Just over a month ago the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in a ball of fire and ultimately sank into the Gulf of Mexico. From that day on an estimated 300,000 gallons of oil per day have been released into the surrounding sea.
Response teams have been working 24/7 to contain and clean up the oil still gushing from the Mississippi Canyon 252 well, yet all efforts to eliminate the flow have so far proved unsuccessful. While many want to simply blame BP, this is a complex issue intersecting the oil industry, the environment, our increasing need for energy, and the lives of those on the Gulf coast who depend upon the ocean for their living.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig, April 21, 2010 (Getty Images)
As a result, there have been loud cries from the environmental community to reduce or eliminate offshore drilling. But is this really practical in light of the world’s demand for energy? Or is this the galvanizing moment that finally pushes us to develop wind and solar power generation, as well as alternative fuels, at breakneck speed?
Where Do We Go From Here?
Make no mistake about the fact that Global Patriot is devoted to protecting the environment, and a big proponent of pursuing renewable energy sources, but today’s reality is that the world is still very thirsty for petroleum, and an increasing amount of this fossil fuel will be coming from deepwater sources unless we experience a radical shift in usage patterns or increase our use of renewable energy resources.
Gulf of Mexico Oil Platforms
I encourage you to read this article from Wired Magazine – Pumped Up: Chevron Drills Down 30,000 Feet to Tap Oil-Rich Gulf of Mexico. The reserves in the Gulf are huge, and as long as we keep burning the stuff, there will be a need to drill for it.
The New York Times has put together an excellent multimedia page which includes a time lapse image demonstrating the spread of oil in the Gulf. You can also hear the words of those who were on the rig and review a history of oil spills.
What Are Your Thoughts?
Where do your feelings lie? Are you against continued offshore drilling, in favor of increased regulation to prevent such disasters from occurring again, or support a massive push to develop clean energy sources such as wind and solar?
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