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Another first — the top export of the U.S., the biggest gas-guzzling nation in the world, is fuel. The nation is on pace to export more gasoline, diesel and jet fuel than any other single export. A decade ago, fuel wasn’t even among the top 25 exports — the top export being aircraft.
In spite of this, the U.S. is nowhere close to energy independence. America is still the world’s largest importer of crude oil. Does that make sense? Doesn’t that support my position that regardless of the energy industry’s making it sound like fracking, Keystone Pipeline, etc. will help us shake the image of being an energy hog, they will sell the product they have to the highest bidder.
Here’s a fact-checked example: oil prices averaged $95 a barrel in 2011, while gasoline averaged $3.52 a gallon, a record average. A decade ago, oil averaged $26 a barrel while gasoline averaged $1.44 a gallon. At the same time, the U.S. is using less fuel for a variety of reasons, which then allows refiners to sell more fuel to Latin America, Asia and even Europe. Analysts say this trend helps explain why U.S. motorists are paying more for gasoline — the more fuel sent overseas, the less of a supply cushion there is at home. In addition, while refining companies will not say how much they make selling fuel overseas, analysts say those sales are probably generating higher profits per gallon than the fuel sold here in the U. S. In 2011, U.S. refiners exported 117 million gallons per day, compared to 40 million a decade ago.
To the real point of this letter: do you believe that the gas and oil harvested from fracking and the Keystone Pipeline will be used here in the U.S.? The U.S. will suffer the environmental consequences of these processes but neither will be used here in any significant amount. We will create and have to live with the environmental damage from mining carcinogenic silica sands, diesel fumes from thousands of truck miles, possible earthquakes, water contamination of wells, earsplitting noise from drilling rigs, lowered properly values, disruption down the middle of the U.S. heartland, danger from spills of the dirtiest most toxic oil known to exist on the planet. For what? So the oil and gas industries can export to the highest overseas bidder and get even richer — and all the while still receiving enormous subsidies from U.S. taxpayers at the same time that fuel prices here continue to increase.
Another first — the top export of the U.S., the biggest gas-guzzling nation in the world, is fuel. The nation is on pace to export more gasoline, diesel and jet fuel than any other single export. A decade ago, fuel wasn’t even among the top 25 exports — the top export being aircraft.
In spite of this, the U.S. is nowhere close to energy independence. America is still the world’s largest importer of crude oil. Does that make sense? Doesn’t that support my position that regardless of the energy industry’s making it sound like fracking, Keystone Pipeline, etc. will help us shake the image of being an energy hog, they will sell the product they have to the highest bidder.
Here’s a fact-checked example: oil prices averaged $95 a barrel in 2011, while gasoline averaged $3.52 a gallon, a record average. A decade ago, oil averaged $26 a barrel while gasoline averaged $1.44 a gallon. At the same time, the U.S. is using less fuel for a variety of reasons, which then allows refiners to sell more fuel to Latin America, Asia and even Europe. Analysts say this trend helps explain why U.S. motorists are paying more for gasoline — the more fuel sent overseas, the less of a supply cushion there is at home. In addition, while refining companies will not say how much they make selling fuel overseas, analysts say those sales are probably generating higher profits per gallon than the fuel sold here in the U. S. In 2011, U.S. refiners exported 117 million gallons per day, compared to 40 million a decade ago.
To the real point of this letter: do you believe that the gas and oil harvested from fracking and the Keystone Pipeline will be used here in the U.S.? The U.S. will suffer the environmental consequences of these processes but neither will be used here in any significant amount. We will create and have to live with the environmental damage from mining carcinogenic silica sands, diesel fumes from thousands of truck miles, possible earthquakes, water contamination of wells, earsplitting noise from drilling rigs, lowered properly values, disruption down the middle of the U.S. heartland, danger from spills of the dirtiest most toxic oil known to exist on the planet. For what? So the oil and gas industries can export to the highest overseas bidder and get even richer — and all the while still receiving enormous subsidies from U.S. taxpayers at the same time that fuel prices here continue to increase.
On a final note, this week an article appeared in the (Rochester) Democrat & Chronicle with the headline: “N.Y. takes action against gas Driller.” The DEC is seeking to fine U.S. Energy Development Corp. for polluting a trout stream in New York State’s Alleghany State Park caused by drilling in Pennsylvania. The DEC says that storm water runoff from U.S. Energy’s roads and well ponds washed a large quantity of contaminated mud into Yeager Brook in Alleghany Park. The response of the polluters: “The company isn’t aware of any issues at the well sites and will vigorously defend itself.” Sound familiar.
Gayle Stout, Dansville
