(Photo of Sarah Palin from Flickr and photographer sloomis08.)
News Update: Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin told ABC’s Charles Gibson that Alaska is responsible for 20% of the U.S. energy supply. But according to the Washington Post’s “Fact Checker” column, Alaska is only the 9th largest energy supplier in the U.S., with just 3.5%, and has relatively little natural gas, very little coal and no nuclear power -- not to mention wind or solar. Palin later amended her statement at a campaign appearance, to say as governor she oversaw “nearly 20% of the U.S. domestic supply of oil." Data from the Energy Information Administration show Alaska accounted for just 7.4% of the country’s U.S. oil and gas production in 2005, and oil output has fallen since then. Today Alaska produces about 13% of domestic oil (though it was 18% back in 2005, before she was governor). GOP presidential candidate John McCain has touted Palin as the most knowledgeable person in the U.S. on energy issues and she says energy would be one of her responsibilities as vice president. (Sources: ClimateWire, Washington Post)
1 comment:
Cynthia,
Please continue with your PDS (Palin Derangement Syndrome).
The more absurdly dishonest the attacks on Governor Palin, the more likely it becomes that she will be our next Vice President.
Let’s review the REAL FACTS:
1) Governor Palin allegedly said ( as quoted by your beloved Washington Post):
“My job has been to oversee nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of oil and gas”
IF accurately quoted, Governor Palin, with respect to oil, was CLEARLY referring to PROVEN RESERVES (aka “supply”). Frankly, I think she just lumped Natural Gas in with that figure for both brevity and simplicity. We’ll get to that later.
2) Proven Oil Reserves -
A) For the years 2001-2006 (the sum total of years available on this EIA page), the average of the proven reserves in Alaska divided by the national proven reserves is PRECISELY 20.2%
B) For the most recent year (2006), the proven reserves in Alaska amount to 18.5% (which falls well within the bounds of the “nearly 20 percent” described by Governor Palin).
C) Open 1/100th of 1% of ANWR and the national proven reserves increase by an estimated 48%.
3) Natural Gas is more complicated (and the condescending little Chuckie Gibson just isn’t).
A) Proven Reserves - In 2006, Alaska accounted for 5%
B) But, MMS estimates Alaska has another 232.54 TRILLION Cubic Feet which your fellow environmental extremists in Congress will not allow access to.
Add that 232.54 TRILLION Cubic Feet to the proven reserves of 10.245 Trillion Cubic Feet and Alaska would have 55% of the nation’s Natural Gas. Open up the REST of the OCS (outside Alaska) for Natural Gas and Alaska would have 38% of the nation’s Natural Gas. If we opened up all the various domestic off limits supplies of Natural Gas (such as the gas found in the oil shale formations), we’re probably talking about Alaska having about 20% of the national “supply”. But, that discussion is WAY beyond the sophistication level of little Chuckie Gibson.
Well, that’s what you get for trusting so-called “journalists”!
It is clear to me that Governor Palin is EXTREMELY well qualified for her both her present job and her next job! Are you?
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