60 Sites In Utah Have Been Spared!

I read an article a few days ago about drilling being stopped dead in it's tracks on 60 sites over in Utah. I was amazed, and I guess it's because I'm so naive, I suppose I gotta stop doing that or being that. Seems like that in the last few weeks of the Bush/Cheney Saga, the administration forced through 77 leases for drilling without following proper protocol. Hmmm...I wonder why?

Only and only because of concerned conservation groups was this challenged. Thankfully, a federal judge fell in line and put an immediate halt to the madness. Seems, once again, that the Bush administration failed to consider the threats to air and water quality and to wildlife. Some of these areas are adjacent to or near Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dinosaur National Monument.

As I continued reading the article, of course, American Petroleum Institute President, Jack N. Gerard, had this to comment:

“This troubling trend means less revenue to federal, state and local governments at a time when our nation is running a record deficit,” Mr. Gerard said. “It also means fewer jobs at a time our nation is headed toward 10 percent unemployment, and it means less domestic energy available when our economy recovers and demand rebounds.”

He also was quick to blame the Obama administration for stopping him dead in his tracks. And isn't just like an oil man to throw money around in his comments? Well, I live in the smack dab heart of unregulated drilling out here in West Texas and you know what Mr. Gerard? Our economy hasn't improved one iota. Nope, in fact...there are more drillers and riggers that are still not working. More and more families without the basic necessities, unable to give their kids five bucks to go on a school field trip. Indeed, the increased drilling in my area hasn't done anything for unemployment.

I will tell ya that those new wind turbines they've been erecting on the cap rock between Kermit and Odessa have actually created new jobs. Several of our high school graduates have just finished the training over in Sweet Water and are working in a pristine clean healthy environment. Nope, they don't have to wear H2S gas masks, go through HAZMAT Training, or worry about making sure their meters are functioning properly.