| Description |
In the midst of the oil price shocks of the summer of 2008, oil shale became the focus of political rhetoric and Congressional bills aimed at increasing domestic oil production and courting the political favor promised by progress in energy policy. The tri-state region of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming is home to the world's largest shale oil resource, which is estimated to house more than fifty percent more oil than the entire Middle East. Production of this oil is complex, however, and has yet to be proven economically viable. More importantly from a policy standpoint is the effect oil shale production would have on the environment, particularly given the complication that 72% of the oil shale resource is housed in federal lands. This paper examines the viability of producing oil from shale rock, and the political landscape of the oil shale debate, where Republicans and Democrats in Congress have introduced competing bills and governors of the affected states have come out in opposition to each other. Importantly, it also examines political theories which give insight into how politicians will deal with the issue, particularly important given the influence Congress has on the program due to its location on federal lands and need for federal rulemaking and funding. Ultimately, this paper suggests the best policy decision on the oil shale debate. While oil shale holds vast potential for energy production, its consequences, environmentally and socially, will also prove to be significant. The federal oil shale program should therefore be governed judiciously, incorporating results of research and development projects currently underway, employing site-specific environmental analysis, and taking the desires of local communities into consideration. |
