Is Sarah Palin Makin' Stuff Up About Alaska's Oil Resources?

Sarah Palin wrote, "I continue to believe in it [drilling] because increased domestic oil production will make us a more secure, prosperous, and peaceful nation," and wrote, "As an Alaskan, I’m especially disheartened by the new ban on drilling in parts of the 49th state and the cancellation of lease sales in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. These areas contain rich oil and gas reserves whose development is key to our country’s energy security.”

What about the environment in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas? How much oil is there? How long would it last? Would tapping that oil make us more secure? Let's hear from Jeff Short, the Pacific Science Director for Oceana of Washington, D.C. Scientific American interviewed Short:

Q. Why do you think further oil and gas activity should not occur in Alaskan waters?

A. I don't think it is widely appreciated that the Bering Sea and the Chukchi Sea are among the most biologically productive seas in the world. They are particularly bad places to add industry. Beyond basic productivity, though, we really know very little about how the basic food web of these ecosystems works, or even to a large extent what life forms are there—we're at a very primitive state of understanding. Plus, the region is already undergoing profound change due to global warming and increasing ocean acidification.

Q. How much oil is in these areas of Alaska's outer continental shelf?

A. The U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) estimates there are 22 billion barrels of recoverable reserves in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. If even a portion were exploited, it would be far more than what is currently produced in the state of Alaska. If the total 22 billion barrels were somehow recovered and produced—which is an almost negligible likelihood—it would be enough oil to supply all the U.S.'s [current level of consumption] for three years. It's really more like six months once you get down to what they're likely to recover, though. As far as world consumption is concerned, that goes down to a week or so. So drilling off of Alaska is not something that's going to save us as far as energy security and supply goes. It's just one more quick fix.

Three years supply at most; more likely six months supply. How would tapping that oil make us more secure? Sarah Palin is makin' stuff up: Tapping that oil isn't the key to our energy security.

Where is the domestic oil that Sarah Palin claims will make us more secure?

Scientific American states, "Short knows a bit about Alaska, having lived there for 37 years. He also knows about oil spills, having studied them for 31 years as an environmental chemist for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Juneau. (He retired from the agency last year.)" The magazine asked Short eight questions. It's an interview worth reading.