by Dennis Aubuchon

Created on: May 11, 2010   Last Updated: May 12, 2010

Recent events have once again brought the issue of energy supply to the top of the news.  The current oil leak issue in the Gulf of Mexico has once again shown how fragile the supply of oil can become.  When there is uncertainty or a disruption in the supply of oil it causes prices to rise.  The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico also brings concerns about the safety and environmental impact of retrieving oil off our shores. 

The current situation in the Gulf of Mexico will have an impact on the prices not only of oil but the supply of food sold to restaurants throughout the United States.  Many individuals currently make a living fishing in the area affected by the oil leak and their immediate future appears to be uncertain. 

Our current dependence on the supply of crude oil from foreign countries must be reduced if we are ever to have some sort of energy independence.  It is unlikely that our use of foreign oil will go away so we must combat our dependence with the use of alternative sources of energy. 

Not to dismiss the impact of this current disaster and the length of time it may take to get the area back to normal, we should not stop drilling for oil in off shore locations. 

We are a country rich in natural resources and the technology to make alternative sources of energy a reality.  The security of the world’s supply of oil today is or should be a concern to those who need it.  The percentage breakdown of the types of energy and the sources we now use shows we have a high percentage of use from foreign sources and less on our own.  This must be reversed. 

Importing oil in the quantity and percentages we use today hurts our economy as the balance of payments shows money is leaving the country vs staying within it.  Using more of our own energy supply and resources would increase the amount of jobs sorely needed in the current environment. 

Using our natural resources of energy such as natural gas and coal increases demand and with the demand more people is needed to maintain the supply line. 

Other sources of energy which we have the ability and expertise to initiate are windmill, natural gas, solar energy, nuclear power, coal and oil in such areas as Alaska and other off shore areas.  Utilizing some of these sources of energy are currently being fought for a variety of reasons not the least of which involve safety and environmental. 

These are two issues which

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