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Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The question of whether or not to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been a political football for every sitting American president since Jimmy Carter. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is just east of Prudhoe Bay in Alaska's "North Slope," which is North America's largest oil field. Currently, the Prudhoe bay area accounts for 17% of U.S. domestic oil production. Over the years, studies performed by the US Geological Survey have shown that large deposits of crude oil reside within the land designated as the "1002 area" of ANWR, as well. Oil interest in the region goes back to the late 1960s. Since the 1979 energy crisis, the question of whether or not to drill for oil has become a hot-button issue for various groups. Traditionally, Alaskan residents, trade unions, and business interests have supported drilling in the refuge, while environmental groups and many within the Democratic Party have traditionally opposed it. Among native Alaskan tribes, support is mixed. In the 1990s and 2000s, votes about the status of the refuge occurred repeatedly in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, but as of 2007 efforts to allow drilling have always been ultimately thwarted by filibusters, amendments, or vetoes. A 1998 United States Geological Survey (USGS) study indicated at least 5.7 billion (95% probability) and possibly as much as 16.0 billion (5% probability) barrels (0.9 to 2.5 km%uFFFD) of technically recoverable oil exists in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 1002 area. The U.S. consumes about 20 million barrels daily. If the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil reserves were used to supply 5% of the U.S. daily consumption -- most is imported from Canada (19%) Mexico (15%), Saudi Arabia (11.5%), Nigeria (10.5%) and Venezuela (10.5%) -- the reserves, using the low figure of 4.3 billion barrels, would last approximately 4300 days, or almost 12 years. Using the high estimate, the reserves would last approximately 11800 days, or 32 years.

Joseph Biden on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes drilling
Description:	"While we all agree on the need to lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy, drilling in ANWR a decade from now will do nothing to address the immediate needs we have today. This is a very short-sighted, small-yield solution that will have devastating long-term effects," said Senator Biden. "Preserving what's special about Alaska's wilderness was one of former Senator Bill Roth's highest priorities, and it's one of mine, too. I know Senator Roth would be disappointed to know that we have lost the fight to preserve the pristine landscape of Alaska's coastal plain."
Citations:

1.	Statement by Senator Biden on Senate Approval to Drill in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (8/8/07) Biden criticizes ANWR drilling.

Sam Brownback on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Description:	Senator Sam Brownback supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to alleviate the cost of gasoline in the U.S..
Citations:

Republican Debate Transcript, South Carolina (8/4/07)
"How I'd prevent that is us getting more supply in the system through biofuels for one thing, like ethanol from Kansas or maybe Iowa would be a nice state, too, for it to come from -- (laughter) -- biodiesel. Us being able to drill more at home here in the United States, and we can do this in places like ANWR safely, environmentally sound, but get the supply up here.
And, we have to in the future work on more conservation here. My family, we have a hybrid car. In that car you can get up to 42, 43 miles to the gallon.
Now my 17-year-old daughter does about 25 on it, so it does matter how you drive it.
But the point of it is, is you can do better, and we can do better. And we can do this through technology, and we can do this through increasing supply here. And by that mixture we can become energy-secure in North America in 15 years, which I think should be one of our key objectives, so that we're not held hostage to a guy like Chavez in Venezuela or Ahmadinejad in Iran. We can do better, and we need to do better than $4-a-gallon gasoline."

Hillary Clinton on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes Drilling
Description:	Senator Hillary Clinton has repeatedly voted against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 2358 to S. 1932 (7/23/07) Senator Hillary Clinton voted to strike the title relating to the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the Coastal Plain.
2.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 168 to S.Con.Res. 18 (7/23/07) Senator Hillary Clinton voted to strike section 201(a)(4) relative to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

John Cox on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	"As a first step, we must drill for more oil in Alaska. We must explore the ANWR region, and do it in an environmentally safe way. Expanded capacity is vital for our nation's energy needs." - John Cox
Citations:

1.	GOP Presidential candidate John Cox Announces "The 2025 Plan: Energy Independence by 2025" (9/18/07) "As a first step, we must drill for more oil in Alaska. We must explore the ANWR region, and do it in an environmentally safe way. Expanded capacity is vital for our nation's energy needs." - Cox

Christopher Dodd on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes
Description:	In the Senate, Dodd voted 'yes' on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	Vote to strike section 201(a)(4) relative to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (9/30/07) Dodd voted against drilling in ANWR.

John Edwards on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes Drilling
Description:	Senator John Edwards has voted to disallow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	U.S. Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 272 to S.Con.Res. 23 (7/23/07) Senator John Edwards votes to prevent consideration of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in a fast-track budget reconciliation bill.
2.	Energy Security Policy Bill Roll Call (11/5/07) Voted no on an amendment to the "Energy Security Policy" bill of 2002, which supported oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Newt Gingrich on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports Drilling
Description:	Supports Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

Winning in a Global Economy (7/23/07)
"Finally, it is time for an honest debate about drilling and producing in places like Alaska, our national forests, and off the coast of scenic areas. The Left uses scare tactics from a different era to block environmentally sound production of raw materials. Three standards should break through this deadlock. First, scientists of impeccable background should help set the standards for sustaining the environment in sensitive areas, and any company entering the areas should be bonded to meet those standards. Second, the public should be informed about new methods of production that can meet the environmental standards, and any development should be only with those new methods. Third, a percentage of the revenues from resources generated in environmentally sensitive areas should be dedicated to environmental activities including biodiversity sustainment, land acquisition, and environmental cleanups in places where there are no private resources that can be used to clean up past problems."

Al Gore on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes Drilling
Description:	Al Gore does not support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

Debate Between the Presidential Candidates: Al Gore and George W. Bush (7/23/07)
"Now, another big difference is Governor Bush is proposing to open up some of our most precious environmental treasures, like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the big oil companies to go in and start producing oil there. I think that is the wrong choice. It would only give us a few months' worth of oil and the oil wouldn't start flowing for many years into the future." ~ Al Gore

Mike Gravel on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes
Description:	"I think that we should end it, because I see that off Florida people don't want any drilling. What we need is to get off carbon, and so the way to do that, from my perspective, is to put a carbon tax on at the source, at the barrel of oil and at the ton of coal." - Mike Gravel
Citations:

Interview with Senator Mike Gravel (8/14/07)
"I think that we should end it, because I see that off Florida people don't want any drilling. What we need is to get off carbon, and so the way to do that, from my perspective, is to put a carbon tax on at the source, at the barrel of oil and at the ton of coal. And it filters up through the system in a fair fashion and that would contribute."

Chuck Hagel on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Citations:

1.	Hagel on the issues - Energy (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)
2.	Energy (8/14/07) Senator Hagel has supported environmentally responsible energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Mike Huckabee on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	"We need both conservation and exploration to reduce our use of imported oil as we develop alternative sources of energy. We need to get oil and gas from ANWR and our continental shelves." - Mike Huckabee
Citations:

1.	Facing the Music: TMV, Governor Huckabee and Five Questions (8/14/07) We need to get oil and gas from ANWR and our continental shelves, which this bill doesn't provide for.
2.	Could Mike Huckabee win the presidency? (11/23/07) Supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to stop using as much foreign oil.

Duncan Hunter on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports drilling
Description:	Hunter voted "no" on prohibiting oil drilling and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	Amendment to Energy Policy Act of 2003 Roll Call (11/26/07) Voted no on an amendment to the "Energy Policy Act of 2003," which would have eliminated the authorization for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Dennis Kucinich on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes
Description:	"The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge is the birthright of the G'witchen tribe as well as a national treasure of natural beauty. Are we, like Esau, about to sell our birthright to the corporations for a mess of oily pottage. Are we ready to despoil our natural heritage in search of liquid fool's gold? "It is time for new thinking. Instead of the oil companies taking over ANWR for drilling, we ought to be talking about taking over the oil companies. They have gouged the American people. They control our politics. They have ignored the growing global environmental crisis. The lust for oil has put us on a path to war." - Kucinich
Citations:

1.	Kucinich Takes To The House Floor To Fight Drilling In Alaska Artic Refuge (8/14/07) Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech today on the House floor during debate on legislation to open up Alaska's Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to drilling

John McCain on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes Drilling
Description:	Senator John McCain has repeatedly voted against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 2358 to S. 1932 (7/23/07) Senator John McCain votes to strike the title relating to the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the Coastal Plain.
2.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 168 to S.Con.Res. 18 (7/23/07) Senator John McCain votes to strike section 201(a)(4) relative to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
3.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 272 to S.Con.Res. 23 (7/23/07) Senator John McCain votes to prevent consideration of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in a fast-track budget reconciliation bill.

Barack Obama on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes Drilling
Description:	Senator Barack Obama has repeatedly voted against allowing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 2358 to S. 1932 (7/23/07) Senator Barack Obama votes to strike the title relating to the establishment of an oil and gas leasing program in the Coastal Plain.
2.	U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes S.Amdt. 168 to S.Con.Res. 18 (7/23/07) Senator Barack Obama voted to strike section 201(a)(4) relative to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Ron Paul on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	Ron Paul has voted against a bill that would end drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

1.	Final Vote Results for Roll Call 317 (7/29/07) Representative Ron Paul voted no on prohibiting drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Bill Richardson on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Opposes drilling
Description:	Richardson says that we need to worry about new energy solutions rather than drilling for what little oil is in the ANWR.
Citations:

1.	Transcript: Gov. Bill Richardson on 'FOX News Sunday' (8/8/07) Transcript from an interview where he was asked about ANWR.

Mitt Romney on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	Governor Mitt Romney supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Citations:

Issue Watch: Achieving Energy Independence (7/23/07)
"We must become independent from foreign sources of oil. This will mean a combination of efforts related to conservation and efficiency measures, developing alternative sources of energy like biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and coal gasification, and finding more domestic sources of oil such as in ANWR or the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)."

Tom Tancredo on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	Tancredo supports drilling in ANWR because he says it will help achieve energy independence.
Citations:

1.	Rep. Tancredo on Global Warming &Energy - Littleton, NH (8/8/07) Tancredo says he supports drilling in Alaska

Tommy Thompson on Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge More on this candidate

Stance:	Supports
Description:	Tommy Thompson believes drilling in ANWR will help achieve energy independence and it can be environmentally friendly.
Citations:

1.	Tommy Thompson Addresses Energy Independence in Davenport IA (8/8/07) Thompson says we need energy independence and Alaskan drilling is aiding that.

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Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

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