Why does the federal government restrict natural gas exploration and production activities?
Federal rules haven’t kept pace with new technology. We need 21st century regulations to guide 21st century energy technology. Remember the early 1970s? We played music on vinyl albums and 8-track tapes, dialed rotary phones and used typewriters. Now we have compact discs, pocket phones, and personal computers. Office equipment like photocopiers save energy by “going to sleep” until they’re needed, and teleconferencing and telecommuting have cut down on transportation by car and airplane. Similarly, energy technology has improved dramatically — but energy policies are stuck in a time warp. Today’s decisions should not be based on yesterday’s technology. Impressive improvements include: • 3-D seismic imaging that allows geologists to “see” oil and natural gas resources before they place a well. • Improvements in horizontal drilling allow access to resources 5 to 6 miles from the drilling site. Does AGA support production of natural gas on federal lands? Most of the natural gas produced
