Energy At Any Cost?
Michael Ferder
Science Department
Herbert Lehman High School
Bronx, New York
Introduction
As industrial societies grow, so too has the
need for more of the world’s resources. The
needs of man are often in direct conflict with
nature.
The balance necessary for an industrial
society to grow, and for animals to survive
within their habitats is constantly being
tested.
Problem:
Damage To The Alaskan
Environment By Oil Pollution
Background
 1967: Largest oil field on U.S. soil discovered at
Prudhoe Bay.
 1977: Commercial oil production begins at
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, after the completion of
the Trans-Alaska pipeline. Cost $10 billion.
 Pipeline stretches 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay
to the port of Valdez.
 Oil production at Prudhoe Bay- approximately
1.8 million barrels/day.
1999: Alaska received >$ 3 billion taxes in oil
revenue
a- state residents each received rebate check
worth $1,770
Environmental Problem
March 24, 1989: The Exxon
Valdez runs aground in Prince
William Sound, spilling 11
million gallons of crude oil into
an environmentally fragile
ecosystem.
Clean up of Prince William
Sound
Wildlife killed > 3,000 otters which are
keystone predators.
Birds killed >10,000
Fish and marine organisms killed
 tens of thousands
 Fishing Industry losses exceed $1 billion.
 Clean up exceed 5 years
Possible Solutions to The Problem
 Grass roots effort(s): Including local
fisherman suing Exxon, the State of
Alaska and the Federal government.
 Environmental Groups: Lobbying state
and federal governments to enact laws to
protect the environment against
corporate indifference.
Better self policing by the oil industry
 Reduce or stop governmental oversight.
Conservation of energy: Slowing down
the need to produce oil from
environmentally fragile areas.
 Controlling future development of Prudhoe
Bay and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
 Willingness of state residents to forego future
oil refunds.
Evaluation of Current Policies
and Actions
• Grass Roots Effort:
Local fisherman
demand compensation
for destruction to the
Local fishing industry.
Action: Law suits
filled in state and
federal courts.
Case not settled
• Environmental Interest
Groups: Lobbied
Congress to enact stricter
laws and fines governing
oil transportation in ships.
Action: Federal
government law passed
making it mandatory for
new tankers to be
double hulled.
Evaluation of Current Policies
and Actions
• Conservation of Energy:
Easiest self regulating
policy to adhere to.
Action: Federal regulations
determine gas consumption
for cars.
More SUV’s being purchased
increasing demand for oil.
To-date not effective.
• Controlling future
development in Prudhoe
Bay and the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.
Action: Environmental
Interest Groups lobbied
the Federal government to
withhold oil rights to the
federal lands. To-date,
highly effective.
Evaluation of Current Policies
and Actions
• Self regulation and
• Willingness of state
policing by the petroleum
residents to forego oil
industry.
endowment refund, or
royalty taxes.
Action: Self policing by the
petroleum industry is
considered unacceptable by
environmental groups.
Considering the poor track
record the industry has
regarding the environment.
Action: State politicians
unwilling to stop payout
from the endowment fund to
residents. State dependent
upon tax revenues from oil
production.
Conclusion
The survival of our fragile ecosystems
rests on the beliefs that corporate
responsibility and environmental
policies can be balanced for the good
of a nation. These policies/beliefs are
constantly being challenged to prevent
further Exxon Valdez type
catastrophes.