One of the most critical debates facing the US presidential candidates, Senators John McCain and Barak Obama, is how to solve the country’s dependency on foreign fossil fuels as oil prices soar and the economy continues to crumble. As a result, oil drilling has become a central theme for US energy policy.

McCain argues that dependency on foreign oil threatens the US national security and economy, because it helps to further underwrite terrorist operations.  US dependency also offers little incentive for repressive regimes to accept democracy.  On the other hand, Obama, who previously opposed drilling, now acknowledges that he would consider “limited offshore drilling” as a broader comprise to lowering prices at the pump. Both candidates appear to agree that the US must depend less on foreign oil and strengthen its economy and national security through increased drilling.

Critics, like Democratic Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, argue offshore drilling is only a quick fix, while others see it as an opportunity to encourage renewable energy technology.  In particular, the National Intelligence Assessment Report on Climate Change testified in June that US nuclear facilities and drilling refineries run a high risk of damage due to severe storms in the near future.  Not only do severe storms threaten coastlines and civilians, but so do the offshore facilities and operators.  Despite safety planning measures thousands of barrels of oil, fuel and chemicals spill into the ocean each year.  Recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico have caused seven of the 13 larger oil spills. 

As Election Day rapidly approaches and the financial crisis spirals out of control, McCain and Obama need to propose a more detailed plan on how to solve the country’s oil dependency and reduce the risk of environmental degradation, while protecting US citizens and strengthening the economy simultaneously.  This herculean task cannot be achieved overnight with offshore drilling. (Jeannette Allan)

A review of the positions of both candidates can be found here

A briefing by Dr. Thomas Fingar on the National Intelligence Assessment on the National Security Implications of Global Climate Change to 2030 is available here

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, October 2008