Palin Ignored Chance to Promote US Energy Independence
As Governor, Sarah Palin has successfully maintained Alaska’s energy independence, but at the same time, she has essentially ignored the mainland’s energy concerns.
Time Magazine reports that as Governor, Palin supported the direct export of enough clean natural gas to supply 1.4 million Americans for two years.
In early 2007, an Alaskan liquefied natural gas plant owned by Marathon Oil and ConocoPhillips requested Department of Energy permission to export some of the fuel. Palin entered the discussion in April, but only to ensure that Alaska’s natural gas needs would be included in the deal.
>>More on energy independence at RG&B
An agreement was reached in January this year, and never once did Palin suggest that the natural gas should instead be used in the lower 48 states. Instead, 100 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas will be exported from Alaska’s Cook Inlet to Japan and other Asian countries, where the fuel sells for double what it does in America.
But this is business as usual for Alaskan natural gas: the West Coast did not have a facility to store liquefied natural gas until May 2007 when a nearly-$1 billion plant was completed along the Baja coast of Mexico. The plant is connected to the CNG pipelines that run throughout the western United States.
The project was well-known and anticipated by the energy industry, but Palin—“one of the foremost experts in this nation on energy issues”—never considered the plant as a possible destination for Alaska’s gas.
The idea that Palin is an energy expert was laughable already, but this decision showed a brash disregard for American energy independence, a cause which she champions nearly every day on the campaign trail.
Photo Credit: Bobster1985 on Flickr under Creative Commons license.
Super, so as governor of Alaska she should have represented the lower 48 states as well? Well gee, why don’t we just blame her for not fighting in WW2.
As a side note, guess what. Most coastal states like Washington, Oregon, and California are currently embroiled in debates over whether or not to allow expansion of LNG. Oregon’s been trying to increase LNG use for a while, but it keeps getting blocked by idiot activists.
Perhaps Palin just decided that it was better to insure the energy security of a state that wasn’t going to turn down viable energy options. Maybe she didn’t want the whole deal hinging on a few states that may or may not have gone with the plan.
But hey, any governor who would put a suntan bed in the governor’s mansion MUST be a lunatic. I mean, it’s not like Alaska doesn’t see sunlight for 6 months out of the year…
I agree she does some weird stuff, but I’m tired of websites posting shit they know nothing about and criticizing her for it.
Just Tat for tit, Teract, chillout.
What energy independence would mean to me is that that we produce as much energy as we consume. If exporting some of it, and then importing from other sources, is a more efficient means of getting energy from producer to consumer, or a more profitable one, then that’s fine with me. The point is, if we produce as much as we consume, we don’t create upward pressure on world energy prices, and we can always switch delivery methods if unstable energy exporting countries try to yank us around on price or embargo their output.
We’re so far from this goal it’s ridiculous to focus on this particular contract.
Or maybe Teract, and I am just going out on a limb here, she made the decision based solely on greed.
Or maybe she is just that unethical, immoral and just plain stupid.
I think McCain would have a better shot if Tina Fey would finish the campaign as Sarah Palin. Although Tina Fey can’t see that thar Russia out of her back window when she wakes up in the morning.
Have you looked into why Oregon blocked the LNG or are you just another Republican idiot that finds one line in a story that justifies your position and uses it? Just asking.
Good night and good luck
How about the fact that she was the governer of the State of Alaska. And conducting energy business for her state. and now that she is running for the Vice President of the United States of America her job if she is elected will be to look after the energy interests for all 50 states now instead of just Alaska.
I suppose the same could be said for any state that allows the export of anything (food, natural resources or manufactured products). By particpating in the free enterprise system and being a capitalist a company can make a profit and benefit everyone. By chosing to make Alaska a strong leader and supplier of gas and oil, Palin sets an example that most states should take a look at.
And maybe, just maybe, as governor of HER State she was more concerned with HER STATE rather than the rest of the country. I would want my Governor to focus on my STATE rather than being concerned with 49 other……..or wait is is 56 other……shit I get so confused.
Teract - No one said that she was a bad governor because she put Alaska’s interests first. However, one would think that the self proclaimed expert on energy independence would have considered the impact. When you consider that she claims Alaska produces what was it, 70% of the nation’s energy, it looks like she sold off some of that national energy.
For the record, I was born in Alaska, my brother lives there now. At no time in our family has anyone ever considered getting a tanning bed because of the lack of sunlight. That’s the kind of frivolous spending that Sarah Palin claims she’s against.
Also for the record, there are plenty of other reasons to keep Sarah Palin as far away from ony real power as possible. Her lack of foresight in this instance is really just icing on the cake.
Why don’t you morons worry about the fact that Obama is a Muslim sympathizer at best, and most probably a closet Muslim at worst. Do you really think that we need a Muslim sympathizer in the White House? Isn’t the media responsible enough to read the books he has written on his own life? The comments he has made about “not trusting the white man” should be an indicator of where he stands in the area of equal rights. This country deserves everything that happens to it if the people of this nation put that man in the White House. Get off of Sarah Palin’s case and start investigating Barak HUSSEIN Obama. What is wrong with you people? You make me sick.
Super, so as governor of Alaska she should have represented the lower 48 states as well?
Comment: Is she going to represent JUST ALASKA or the whole country as VP?
Perhaps Palin just decided that it was better to insure the energy security of a state that wasn’t going to turn down viable energy options. Maybe she didn’t want the whole deal hinging on a few states that may or may not have gone with the plan.
Comment: Maybe she just does have the experience to switch froma state of 500,000 people to VP of the countyr of 230,000 PLUS!
Maybe she doesn’t know how the Politics of the nation worksd and compromise and respect for the weishes of US lunatics in CaLifornians who would represent a G 9 industrailized nation if the secceded from the UNION..GOD FORBID they should hjave any clue with theior zero emission onjectives! DOes Plain Pain Palin have a clue!
I agree she does some weird stuff, but I’m tired of websites posting shit they know nothing about and criticizing her for it.
Comment: I’d say that the only websites posting shit is this one for posting yours!