The real issue that is being censored is that even if this oil supply turns
out to be as large as it is supposed to be, it would only meet the demand of
the US for one year (excluding all other foreign supplies). This is the last
unexploited fossil fuel reserve left (outside expensive coal deposits) the
US has left.

In 2005 the world oil supply will peak. The oil supply in the US, Canada,
and Russia has already peaked, 1977, 1990, and 1990 (or so) respectively.
The north sea oil supply will peak in 2002 or so.

The additional oil will be too little and too late to resolve the energy
supply in the US.

The other issue here - the ethical one - is that there is no consensus in
the US, or the world, for that matter regarding the exploitation of the
Artic Wildlife Refuge. The area is currently protected as a result of the US
democratically elected decision makers. So if there is no consensus, then it
should not proceed. If the US goes ballistic on developing it's last
remaining oil and gas deposits, then a lot of capital is going to be tied up
in exploitation, which would further reduce the capital expenditures in
renewable sources of energy and conservation or energy efficiency programs.

Florida Light and Power for example has commenced construction of 450 wind
generators in Oregon and Washington. This will supply 70,000 residential
homes and these plants will be in operation by year end of 2001. Other
utilities are following suit in the mid-west. These new generators do not
kill birds because the rotors go much slower and therefore the birds can see
them to avoid them, and they are quieter too.

In addition to this, there is a process in place to mass produce silicon for
photovoltaics. The old process used silicon from semiconductors (very
expensive), and as a result the new purer silicon will be 50% cheaper than
before.

This whole issue of the Bush administration going 'ballistic' - it did not
even win the popular vote - is going to snowball into an fiasco for the
Republicans who are in 'panic' mode becuase of the current slowdown in the
economy... Opening up a consensus based public participation process by
recourse to the courts is ridiculous because it was the Republicans that
fought (for the most part) against the halt of timbering, mining, and
drilling in the national forests which are irreplaceble treasures that
represent less than 5% of the continental USA. The only public forests left
without roads and appalling industrial evidence.

It will probably be thrown out of court...as if they were not at the
consultation table from day one to day omega..they (the oil and coal and
timber and mining lobby have all the money and time - they don't need
sleep).

Here's to Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (2/10ths of one percent of homes
lastest statistic) and ICF (insulated concrete forms, eg. Blue Max)

addios

john foster