Attitudes Towards Offshore Drilling and Fracking Essay

Thesis

Despite the existing environmental hazards, human losses, and influence on other industries, the government cannot neglect the industrial, financial, and employment benefits of fracking and offshore drilling and continues developing new implementation plans.

Body

Main Idea # 1: In the United States, many groups are against offshore drilling and fracking expansion because of its negative effects on the environment, populations, and other industries.

A number of environmental issues are frequently discussed regarding offshore drilling that contributes to air pollution, carbon emissions, oil spills, fires in the sea, and climate changes. Although the chosen processes are mechanical, oil transportation through the rigs emits carbon and pollutes the sea, so “environmental costs and greenhouse gas damage would total $2 billion” (Bailey). As soon as oil spins over the sea or ocean, a lot of harm is caused to marine inhabitants and the environment, and these changes are irreversible and stay invisible for some time. In addition to environmental losses, the cost of human life should be evaluated through the prism of offshore drilling and fracking.

Deepwater Horizon is known as the night that “killed 11 people” and “harmed marine ecosystems and coastal economies for years” (Calma). Drillers should spend much time offshore, and the remote environment creates certain threats for human life, including extreme heat, cold, storms, and other natural disasters that people are not able to control. Finally, it is necessary to remember that offshore drilling and fracking could determine the development and growth of other industries like tourism and fishing and provoke discontent related to the quality of ecosystems.

After the Deepwater Horizon accident, the “coastal tourism industry lost about $22.7 billion,” and the “fishing industry lost $247 million” (Zachos). The desire of people to entertain or work depends on the surrounding quality, and negative environmental changes under the pressure of offshore drilling create challenges in the spheres of tourism and fishing.

Main Idea # 2: Although millions of people cannot get rid of the idea that oil drilling is dangerous, one should recognize its industrial and economic benefits and think about new employment opportunities for Americans.

The analysis of recent economic changes proves the benefits of offshore drilling and fracking by reducing import costs and lowering petroleum prices in the region. The price “$50 per barrel” would result in garnering about “$492 billion in revenues” and “$42 billion in lower oil prices” (Bailey). Increased domestic production of oil is characterized by significant achievements in the country because the government should not spend a lot on the establishment of international trade but expand economic activities.

Along with economic efficiency, the advantages of industrialization must be mentioned because the United States gets a good chance to become financially independent and improve the use of its natural resources. The Petroleum Extraction Industry continues investigating alternative energies and enhancing hydraulic fracturing to improve productivity and reduce undesired losses (Freeman). Industrialization is a significant sign of the country’s development and global impact, and offshore drilling along with fracking become the examples of how the industrial revolution in the United States could be promoted.

Millions of Americans are obsessed with finding good jobs and favorable working conditions to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, and utility, and oil drilling sites have been considerably improved in terms of salaries and quality. Paul Ryan is a House Speaker who supports oil drilling as the natural possibility for creating jobs, offering protected areas, and demonstrating “a new flow of money to state and federal governments” (Zachos). The growth of offshore drilling needs to underline the importance of new human resources, including professional engineers and administrators who are aware of required activities, which expands education and reduces unemployment.

Main Idea # 3: Oil extraction cannot be ignored today because of the necessity to develop the country and improve the quality of life, so the government is interested in implementing new drilling plans.

The Trump administration continues developing new drilling plans with the help of which the United States could become an international leader in the offshore energy industry. A five-year blueprint should expand drilling areas to more than 90% in different directions out of the United States, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic (Zachos). The government needs to discover new drilling areas that could be safe for Americans and continue bringing benefits to the country’s economy and industrial growth, and Trump shows its desire to focus on available opportunities within the next four years.

Despite the negative impact of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, the governments of many countries promote their technological advancements to facilitate maritime movements and find new oil reserves. After the accident, Barack Obama appointed Boesch as a representative of the national oil spill commission to investigate the causes, outcomes, and possible improvements of oil drilling (Calma). It is impossible to predict all oil drilling challenges, but the government has to learn the offered lessons and do everything possible to predict new problems and create safe conditions for employees and the environment.

At this moment, Americans do not demonstrate a common attitude toward the importance of oil drilling activities in the country because, despite the existing shortages, this industry brings a lot of benefits to the population. A national public opinion poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that 32% of the population believe that drilling should “stay as is” (Fears and Clement). Although drilling expansion is defined as potential damage to human lives and the environment, people understand that this industry improves the quality of life and makes many commodities available at affordable prices.

Conclusion

After the Deepwater Horizon accident, people are concerned about offshore drilling and fracking because of environmental and human losses, but financial, industrial, and employment benefits make the government promote oil extraction in the country.

Works Cited

Bailey, R. (2014). Offshore drilling remains a risk worth taking. In T. Thompson (Ed.), Oil spills: Current controversies. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. Web.

Calma, Justine. “Offshore Drilling Has Dug Itself a Deeper Hole Since Deepwater Horizon.”The Verge, 2020, Web.

Fears, Darryl, and Scott Clement. “Americans Would Rather Reduce Oil and Gas Exploration than ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’.”Washington Post, 2019, Web.

Freeman, B. (2014). Fracking is not harmful to the environment. In L. M. Zott (Ed.), The environment: Opposing viewpoints. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. Web.

Zachos, Elaina. “Trump’s Offshore Drilling Plan – What You Need to Know.” National Geographic, 2018, Web.