In last week's State of the Union address, President Bush admitted that the United States is suffering from an oil addiction. Less than one week later, the President released his 2007 federal budget request to Congress- and it includes revenues from drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
According to conservation groups, by investing in modern technology, America could cut its dependence on fossil fuels while saving consumers money, preserving treasured places, and keeping Americans safer. An energy policy that invests in smarter technology to lower energy bills and create jobs, invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and raises fuel economy standards could save more oil than the United States currently imports from the entire Persian Gulf or could ever take out of the Arctic Refuge.
This approach to ANWR was defeated in last year's budget. In 2005, drilling advocates tried to advance the controversial proposal to drill the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They attached the measure to the House-passed energy bill, inserted it into the Federal budget, and Senator Stevens even made a last-ditch effort to add it to the Defense Appropriations bill. Despite Congress's rejection of these tactics, the Bush Administration continues to push their energy policy. This year's blueprint includes four billion dollars in anticipated revenues to be realized through the sale of oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
President Bush's budget also sets aside additional money to pave the way for more oil and gas development on public lands and off coast. The budget includes funds to facilitate and accelerate permitting for increased drilling on Bureau of Land Management lands, and pumps more money to study expanding oil and gas development in deepwater areas off the outer continental shelf.
