Unleash the energy

America is currently producing 30.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. We are using only 26.6 trillion.

What are we currently doing with the excess? We are burning it off because we don’t have the pipeline infrastructure to capture it. Not only does this pollute the atmosphere, it wastes a valuable resource.

Russia is currently holding most of Europe hostage due to its dependence upon natural gas. How can we ask Europe to sanction Russia when we won’t even provide an alternative source of energy that we currently waste.

It currently takes 180-270 days to obtain a federal drilling permit and longer to obtain lines to transport the gas. There are currently 26 potential export terminals under review by the government, most of which have waited more than a year.

The Obama administration is simply catering to the environmental lobby. Why not exploit this low-polluting source of energy, build the lines and terminals necessary to export it while providing high-paying jobs, and help Europe escape from the clutches of Russia?

This is a win for everyone involved, except for extremist environmentalists and, of course, Russia.

Hal Dixon

Spokane