Off-shore oil drilling - good or bad?

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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There are two reasons I support offshore oil on the west coast.
1 It will create a lot of high paying jobs in an area that desperately needs them
2 It will produce significant tax revenues for the province.
....3. causes trauma to surrounding environments,
4. screws up ecologies for future generations,
5. creates potentially disastrous consequences
etc
etc
etc
 

Mowich

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Dec 25, 2005
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I suppose that will come in time, to people's benefit, but meanwhile a lot of people are scared sh*tless of nuclear energy for no real valid reason.

I think you make a good point about nuclear energy, JLM. I believe Canada should be looking at bringing more reactors online. After all, France has nuclear power and their energy costs are nothing compared to ours. And so far, they have had no problems with the reactors. Three Mile Island was a long time ago. It scared the bejesus out of people who then demanded that truly strigent guidelines be put in place, which they were. Since then, no problems. It can be done well and it can be done right.

As far as drilling, off- or on-shore, I have no problem as long as it is managed properly.

But then, that's just my opinion. ;-)
 

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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I think you make a good point about nuclear energy, JLM. I believe Canada should be looking at bringing more reactors online. After all, France has nuclear power and their energy costs are nothing compared to ours. And so far, they have had no problems with the reactors. Three Mile Island was a long time ago. It scared the bejesus out of people who then demanded that truly strigent guidelines be put in place, which they were. Since then, no problems. It can be done well and it can be done right.

As far as drilling, off- or on-shore, I have no problem as long as it is managed properly.

But then, that's just my opinion. ;-)

You strike me as being fairly sensible, I get so tired of people who are always yapping about WHAT we do instead of HOW we do it. We just have to make sure the right people are doing it and set stringent check and balances.
 

Mowich

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Dec 25, 2005
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You strike me as being fairly sensible, I get so tired of people who are always yapping about WHAT we do instead of HOW we do it. We just have to make sure the right people are doing it and set stringent check and balances.

Thank you JLM. I do think I have both my feet firmly planted in the ground. Maybe it is my prairie roots. :smile:
 

taxslave

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Nov 25, 2008
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....3. causes trauma to surrounding environments,
4. screws up ecologies for future generations,
5. creates potentially disastrous consequences
etc
etc
etc

Yes creating jobs where people think welfare is a right would be a dangerous consequence alright. Creating jobs for future generations so they don't have to move away from where they grew up is a potentially disastrous consequence too.
And the down side is?
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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Yes creating jobs where people think welfare is a right would be a dangerous consequence alright. Creating jobs for future generations so they don't have to move away from where they grew up is a potentially disastrous consequence too.
And the down side is?
Why do we need jobs? Money. We need to eat, right? It'd be disastrous if we grew our own food or traded for it.
A disastrous consequence? Oil rig disasters - Offshore Drilling Accidents and Incidents - Rig Disaster Listing Piper Alpha Disaster – 20 Year Anniversary Of Tragedy In The North Sea Oil Rig Accidents: The Worst Offshore Oil Exploration Disasters | Suite101.com
You seem to be pretty myopic if you can't see any harm in offshore oil.
 

Tonington

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Oct 27, 2006
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I think you make a good point about nuclear energy, JLM. I believe Canada should be looking at bringing more reactors online.

Canada has. Recently Ontario had to scrap plans to build two 1,200 MW reactors. The price tag came in at $26 billion, which would blow their long term capital budget for nuclear power, about 20 years.

This is a familiar story in other countries too. Finland is experiencing the same problem.

I'd be surprised if anyone could show me a single nuclear plant in construction, or in the planning stage, that is proceeding on-time, and on-budget. The cheap operating costs don't mean much if managers can't get financing for the huge upfront costs.
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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I'd be surprised if anyone could show me a single nuclear plant in construction, or in the planning stage, that is proceeding on-time, and on-budget.
You obviously haven't met the BC Liberals yet. lol The parameters keep changing as to what's on budget or on time.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
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Canada has. Recently Ontario had to scrap plans to build two 1,200 MW reactors. The price tag came in at $26 billion, which would blow their long term capital budget for nuclear power, about 20 years.

This is a familiar story in other countries too. Finland is experiencing the same problem.

I'd be surprised if anyone could show me a single nuclear plant in construction, or in the planning stage, that is proceeding on-time, and on-budget. The cheap operating costs don't mean much if managers can't get financing for the huge upfront costs.
We could tap a lot of magma for 26 billion.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
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You obviously haven't met the BC Liberals yet. lol The parameters keep changing as to what's on budget or on time.
Too bad they call themselves liberals. They tarnish an already tarnished name. They are Social Discredit in disguise.
 

L Gilbert

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Nov 30, 2006
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I think oil in general hasn't been particularly good for Earth. It should have been left as it was. But then, I guess its a part of our evolution, along with other pollution, wars, religion, and politics. Or would that be considered devolution?
 

taxslave

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Nov 25, 2008
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Why do we need jobs? Money. We need to eat, right? It'd be disastrous if we grew our own food or traded for it.
A disastrous consequence? Oil rig disasters - Offshore Drilling Accidents and Incidents - Rig Disaster Listing Piper Alpha Disaster – 20 Year Anniversary Of Tragedy In The North Sea Oil Rig Accidents: The Worst Offshore Oil Exploration Disasters | Suite101.com
You seem to be pretty myopic if you can't see any harm in offshore oil.

believe that it can be made safe to drill off the west coast. Jobs are needed now and if you ever spent any time on the mid coast you would know that growing food is not an option so why not trade oil for food and other essentials?
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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The off shore oil rigs seem pretty safe, at least no major spill's that we have heard of lately. I agree, we do need jobs and for most growing their own food is not a viable option. Trading for essential needs is the only option we have. (the other major options we have are to costly).