Supporting Views
Former President George W. Bush and his administration supported drilling in the Arctic Refuge, contending that it could "keep 's economy growing by creating jobs and ensuring that businesses can expand nd it will make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy," and that "scientists have developed innovative techniques to reach ANWR's oil with virtually no impact on the land or local wildlife."
A June 29, 2008 Pew Research Poll reported that 50% of Americans favor drilling of oil and gas in ANWR while 43% oppose (compared to 42% in favor and 50% opposed in February of the same year). A CNN opinion poll conducted on August 31, 2008 reported 59% favor drilling for oil in ANWR, while 39% oppose it. A large majority of Alaskans support drilling in ANWR, including every governor, senator, representative, and legislature for the past 25 years. In the state of Alaska, residents receive annual dividends from a permanent fund funded partially by oil-lease revenues. In 2000 the dividend came to $1,964 per resident.
The United States Department of Energy estimates that ANWR oil production between 2018 and 2030 would reduce the cumulative net expenditures on imported crude oil and liquid fuels by an estimated $135 to $327 billion (2006 dollars), reducing the foreign trade deficit.
Arctic Power cites a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report which states that 77 of the 567 wildlife refuges in 22 states had oil and gas activities. Louisiana had the most with 19 units followed by Texas which had 11 units. Furthermore, oil or gas was produced in 45 of the 567 units located in 15 states. The number of producing wells in each unit ranged from one to more than 300 in the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana.
Arctic Power also claims support from the chiefly Inupiat Eskimo residents of the village of Kaktovik, located in area 1002. Sixty-eight villagers responded to a 2000 survey paid for by the state of Alaska with a $25,000 grant to educate the town on ANWR, fifty-three of whom strongly agreed or agreed that "The coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should be open to oil and gas exploration." (Broken Link)
Read more about this topic: Arctic Refuge Drilling Controversy
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