In an attempt to become less energy dependent, congressional republicans led by U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici R-N.M. and U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin R-La., are attempting to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.
Tauzin defended the bill Monday, claiming that drilling for oil in Alaska would help the war on terror.
\Developing a very small portion of ANWR is critically important from an economic and national security standpoint. It will reduce our growing, dangerous dependence on foreign oil and will help to ensure affordable and abundant energy supplies in the future,"" he said in a statement.
Proponents of the bill claim it will help the environment, create a large number of jobs and stimulate the economy, according to Enrique Knell, spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.
The amount of space to be available for drilling would be approximately 2,000 acres of the 19 million acres in the refuge, which Knell said would dramatically limit the impact on the environment.
""We can meet America's energy needs in a balanced way that will preserve the beauty of the home that we love, but will also provide for our energy and economic needs,"" Knell said.
Critics of the bill believe drilling for oil in an area such as ANWR would not be beneficial, but would be unnecessary, wasteful and would do little to make the United States energy independent.
Paul Houseman, developmental assistant for Clean Wisconsin, a state environmental organization, said compared to the amount of oil imported from countries such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, there is an insignificant amount of oil available for drilling in ANWR.
""There's no reason to do it from a good economic standpoint other than that certain oil companies that have ties to the Bush Administration stand to gain economically,"" Houseman said.
Houseman also said in the 1970s drilling was permitted around ANWR, but ANWR itself was protected, and drilling in the area would be reneging on the previous agreement.
While many Republicans said they believe drilling should commence in the ANWR region, many Democrats oppose the notion. In a statement released earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called for the senate to protect ANWR. Durbin said the best way to become less energy dependent is to research alternative sources of energy and make cars more fuel efficient.
