Maureen Lorenzetti
OGJ Online
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 16 -- A new coalition of environmental and religious groups Wednesday announced a media campaign designed to stiffen public opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and US dependence on foreign oil.
The Sierra Club and the National Council of Churches are sponsoring two different television advertisements urging voters to tell their congressmen that conservation and technology should be emphasized to enhance national energy security, rather than relying on exploration of the environmentally sensitive ANWR coastal plain in northern Alaska.
"Washington has been dragging its feet on energy security," said John Podesta, former White House chief of staff in the Clinton administration and now a senior fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "It's time for the president and Congress to reverse course, and tackle this national security priority."
Congress resumes work next week after a month-long recess. Leaders of the Democratic-controlled Senate have promised to consider an omnibus energy policy reform bill before spring. The Republican-led House passed a sweeping measure last August that calls for limited leasing of the ANWR coastal plain.
ANWR remains a controversial issue. The White House supports leasing a portion of the coastal plain but has not ruled out accepting legislation that does not include it.
"Evoking religious themes, the new ads say Americans ought not to ruin the land we've been entrusted to protect," the Sierra Club said. "Rather than destroying special landscapes for oil, we can find more energy through new technologies."
Proponents of drilling argue that conservation and new technologies will not be enough to satisfy America's large oil needs: the US consumes 25% of world oil supplies but only has 3% of known oil reserves.
Industry also argues that drilling in areas like ANWR better protect the environment because companies would have to meet tough US standards, the world's most stringent. Otherwise, companies would drill in countries with less strict regulations.
ANWR opponents argue that policymakers can take a number of actions that would lessen the US demand for oil.
"We don't need arctic oil and Americans don't want it," said Deb Callahan of the League of Conservation Voters.
Contact Maureen Lorenzetti at [email protected]