--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > AP headline today: > > "Energy Companies Drill with a Conscious" > > Via Yahoo News: > http://tinyurl.com/3b9jr8
It's genuinely sad to hear that: "The U.S. Energy Information Administration says 31,587 natural-gas wells were drilled for exploration and production in 2006, up from 16,728 just four years earlier." How long can this go on?! There ARE alternate energy technologies today that are not being fully developed and/or implemented that could indeed cut way back on the need for fossil fuels. It's inevitable that humanity will eventually *have* to implement them. It's my understanding that Big Oil has often blocked that kind of effort when it has appeared to be a threat to their dominance. And, speaking of Big Oil: How Big Oil contributions impacted the Senate energy vote Big Oil buys Tax Loopholes from Congressmen - this week's edition of corporate run government Today the Senate passed an energy bill that helps reduce America's oil dependency and takes an important step toward reducing global warming pollution. Unfortunately, the bill does not close $13 billion worth of tax loopholes and subsidies for the oil industry and reinvest the money in clean and renewable energy technologies. Earlier in the day, 40 Senators blocked the bill, forcing Senate leaders to jettison the tax provisions. "Oil companies have given $8 million to Senators over the past four years. Today's action by 40 Senators proved they have gotten their money's worth: $1,600 in tax breaks for every dollar the oil industry has spent in campaign contributions. http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=D5668608-F1F6-7B10-3BE0FD3C6B3475B4 Cumulative Oil & Gas Contributions to Senators Who Blocked a Measure to Rollback Oil Company Giveaways on HR 6 Source: Center for Responsive Politics OIL & GAS CONTRIBUTIONS over past 4 years Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) $577,556 John Cornyn (R-TX) $561,380 Bob Corker (R-TN) $215,350 Pat Roberts (R-KS) $205,850 James Inhofe (R-OK) $196,700 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) $150,500 Pete Domenici (R-NM) $145,950 Jon Kyl (R-AZ) $140,700 Mary Landrieu (D-LA) $133,650 Christopher Bond (R-MO) $129,350 Sam Brownback (R-KS) $129,155 Trent Lott (R-MS) $124,300 George Voinovich (R-OH) $122,050 Arlen Specter (R-PA) $119,878 Lamar Alexander (R-TN) $98,300 Jim Bunning (R-KY) $98,269 John Ensign (R-NV) $95,100 David Vitter (R-LA) $81,100 Michael Crapo (R-ID) $63,650 Jeff Sessions (R-AL) $58,800 Robert Bennett (R-UT) $58,700 Thad Cochran (R-MS) $58,500 Richard Shelby (R-AL) $56,800 Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) $53,400 Ted Stevens (R-AK) $44,700 Michael Enzi (R-WY) $42,500 John Sununu (R-NH) $41,900 Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) $41,250 Larry Craig (R-ID) $33,500 Judd Gregg (R-NH) $31,500 Lindsey Graham (R-SC) $29,600 Richard Burr (R-NC) $28,750 John Barrasso (R-WY) $27,500 Johnny Isakson (R-GA) $25,200 Jim DeMint (R-SC) $23,722 Mel Martinez (R-FL) $17,000 Chuck Hagel (R-NE) $16,600 Tom Coburn (R-OK) $9,600 John Warner (R-VA) $9,500 Wayne Allard (R-CO) $0* Total $4,097,810 *Sen. Allard was last re-elected in 2002 and will be retiring in 2008 [pdf file] http://tinyurl.com/3anmf4
