Where do you stand?

senate Bill S. 2238

Should the US Continue Leasing Federal Land for Drilling or “Keep it in the Ground?”

Argument in favor

The U.S. needs to be a leader in the race to stop climate change. Federal land — which belongs to all of us — should not be used to extract climate change-inducing fossil fuels.

Kate's Opinion

···

02/12/2016

US needs to take stronger steps towards a just transition away from fossil fuels.

Like (29)

Lewis's Opinion

···

02/11/2016

The drilling would cause more problems then solutions.

Like (15)

Grace's Opinion

···

08/20/2016

The Stone Age didn't end when we ran out of stone, so why hold off ending the oil age until we run out of oil? Climate change is a threat not only to the environment and to the millions of species on this planet, but to the economy, health and security of this nation, and it's citizens and peoples across the globe. The quickest and easiest way for the United States to address this issue is to instantly stop production of fossil fuels on federal lands and waters by keeping them in the ground. This won't only help preserve the planet for future generations, but will protect local communities and ecosystems from devastating effects of fracking and oil spills. We have the technology to be fracked gas and oil free. Let's do it.

Like (14)

Argument opposed

The bill would deprive the government of billions of dollars in federal revenue from the leases. It’s pointless for the United States to restrict drilling if other countries aren’t doing the same.

Loraki's Opinion

···

11/21/2016

WE NEED ENERGY INDEPENDENCE! Being dependent upon oil from the Middle East is fine, if you don't mind those countries spending U.S. dollars to support Islamic civilization jihad and terrorism. This bill is obviously part of the Left's war on fossil fuels. It is part of selling out our national sovereignty and security to the corrupt United Nations. It is part of the globalists' agenda for a New World Order, in which the elites control EVERYTHING! And by the way, going "green" ISN'T going to save the planet! I believe even Stephen Hawking agrees with God that the Earth has an expiration date! That doesn't mean we shouldn't be good stewards of our resources, BUT the Earth and everything on it (and in it) was made FOR mankind, not the other way around!

Like (7)

Mike's Opinion

···

09/03/2016

Why on earth would we want 4 dollar a gallon gas again?

Like (2)

Susan's Opinion

···

01/25/2017

Our country should be moving toward clean renewable energy. Our environment and climate research shows that humans through use of fossil fuels are damaging the eco systems. Continuing to do the same thing over and over while expecting different results is insanity. Change now.

Like (1)

What is Senate Bill S. 2238?

This bill would limit fossil fuel development on U.S. federal land and water. Specifically, it would affect:

Federal lands: Banning all new leases for fossil fuel development and terminate any current leases that are non-producing.
Arctic and Atlantic Oceans: Prohibiting any offshore drilling.
Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico: Banning new leases for offshore drilling and end non-producing leases.

The bill would not affect production on privately owned land. Instead, it targets the 24 percent of U.S. carbon emissions (and 3-4 percent of worldwide emissions) that originate on U.S. federal lands.

Impact

Corporations with current leases to drill, corporations who planned to seek leases, oil workers, everyone who stands to be affected by climate change

Cost of Senate Bill S. 2238

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable. Cost estimates depend on how big of a threat each side believes climate change represents. A spokesperson for Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Lisa Murkowski said the bill could lead to higher energy prices and cost the government billions in lost lease revenue. But climate researchers have estimated that damage from climate change could cost US coastal areas $1 trillion by 2100.

More Information

In Depth:

At a 2009 United Nations climate conference, the United States and other countries agreed that global temperature should be kept to fewer than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This bill states that if the the global temperature rises more than 2℃, the world will experience “droughts, rising seas, mass extinctions, heat waves, desertification, wildfires, acidifying oceans, significant economic disruption, and security threats.”

The bill also states that in order to keep temperatures below this level, 80 percent of remaining global fossil fuel reserves must remain unburned. By preventing new drilling leases on federal lands and waters, this bill aims to keep 90 percent of the carbon from oil, gas, and coal in these areas underground.

Of Note: This bill is making more of a splash than it might otherwise would because Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is a cosponsor.

Media:

Summary by Katie Rose Quandt

(Photo credit: BoH/ Wikipedia)