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Alternative Energy

By REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso
published in The Economist on November 17, 2001

SIR—Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would increase and prolong America's dependence on the difficult-to-defend Alaska pipeline ("How much would it really help?", October 20th). In early October, an inebriated miscreant shot a hole in the pipeline, shutting production for days. Imagine what a band of sober terrorists could do. Even if the pipeline could be secured from attack, Arctic production would not significantly lessen America's thirst for foreign oil. As the Middle East's share of world production increases, the economic and security risks will rise accordingly. The only sure way to increase energy security is greater energy efficiency, which will buy time to diversity America's energy portfolio with hydrogen and other alternatives to oil.