Page 10 • Thursday, September 7, 2006
OpTKi’i5W
The Pendulum
Katrina and the punch at the pump
Ben Lleberman
MCT Campus
Lost amid the anniversary articles
about Hurricane Katrina is how we’ve
dealt with the energy fallout. We’ve had a
year to get used to $3-per-gallon gasoline
and to come to grips with the vulnerabili
ty of our energy supplies.
What have we learned?
We’ve learned that the impact didn’t
have to be so bad and that Washington
can take measures to ensure that the next
big storm won’t hurt drivers and home
owners as badly.
The price of gasoline shot up a record-
breaking 50 cents per gallon in the week
after the storm, giving America its first
taste of $3-plus gasoline. Natural-gas prices
GAS
eOMCN AND
®OVEL
Graphic courtesy of MCT Campus
rose even higher in percentage terms, and
only extremely mild weather prevented the
2005-06 winter heating season from being
the most expensive ever.
Little wonder Katrina packed such a
punch at the pump and in natural-gas
bills, since nearly 25 percent of
America’s domestic oil and gas produc
tion was concentrated in its path.
Offshore wells were shut down and
evacuated in the days before Aug. 29,
and many were damaged when the
storm’s 170-mph winds and massive
waves swept through. Related onshore
refining, processing and pipeline infra
structure in Louisiana also was hit hard,
cutting energy production in the region
dramatically for a few weeks and to
some degree even today.
The national impact wouldn’t have
been so severe if it hadn’t hit the only off
shore area with extensive oil and natural-
gas production. The Pacific, Atlantic and
eastern Gulf of Mexico also have sub
stantial oil and gas resources. And many
onshore areas hold substantial untapped
reserves as well. But federal restrictions
have placed many of these areas off-lim
its to energy exploration and drilling.
Politics, not geology, is the reason
America has concentrated so many ener
gy eggs into one hurricane-prone basket
off Louisiana and Texas. And future
Katrina-strength storms seem inevitable.
Thus, if we truly want to take an ener
gy policy-related lesson from Katrina, we
need to allow oil and natural-gas produc
tion elsewhere. We’d have greater sup
plies, lower prices and less vulnerability
to storms or other disruptions.
These restrictions were put in place
years ago, at a time when energy was
cheap and the need for additional produc
tion was not seen as significant. But cir
cumstances have changed.
Oil and natural-gas prices are almosi
three times higher than they were in the
1990s when much of this energy potential
was placed out of reach.
Also, drilling and exploration tech
niques have been refined to significantly
reduce the risk of environmental damage.
Experts say most oil found in U.S. waters
results from natural seepage from the sea
floor, and only 1 percent comes from off
shore wells. And very little oil spilled
from rigs in the path of Katrina.
Also, although this year’s hurricane
season has thus far been mercifully mild,
most experts say that hurricane frequency
runs in cycles and that we have begun a
long-term period where powerful hurri
canes are more likely.
Congress has before it bills to open
some of these off-limits offshore areas as
well as a small part of the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Legislators
have two months to do something con
structive about energy before facing vot
ers in November.
We have within our borders and oui
territorial waters tens of billions of barrels
of additional oil and enough new natural
gas to last for decades. And it is so spread
out across the nation that no one stomn
could have the impact on supply that
Katrina did.
It’ll take more time to get over Katrina
and the damage it did to one of America’s
most storied cities. But we can learn
Katrina’s energy lesson right now. And
we can do something about it.
Striving to be a better Elon community
Jonathan Fiedler
Columnist
For Elon to become one of the finest uni
versities in America, the students’ demeanor
must be at a high echelon of quality. There are
many caring students in all sectors of this uni
versity, including the Greek life system.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe the Greeks
at this school are composed of great people
who do a lot of service to the community;
but it seems that some Greek organizations
try to belittle other organizations by claim
ing their superiority over these groups.
For example, one organization may claim,
“If you are a , raise your hand. If you are
not, raise your standards.” I am disappointed
in these types of phrases. I think the best way
Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes
are truly endless.
-Mother Teresa
to prove that you are part of a classy organiza
tion is not to insult another fellow organization,
but to be a living example of character.
If Greek organizations refrain from using
derogatory phrases towards their fellow stu
dents, I believe this will have a ripple effect
on the Elon community. After we start refer
ring to each other with kinder words, the
overall morale of the school’s spirit will
increase. Once the school spirit increases, I
believe more students will support the hard
working athletes. We had a great season last
year in Phoenix athletics, but this year can
be even better.
Once more students support their fellow
Elon friends in athletics, I hope more stu
dents support our talented performing arts
program. We have great musicians, wonder
ful actors and superb dancers—and all
events are free with your Phoenix Card.
What a deal!
After the Greek students become lead
ers in good campus conduct, many aspects
regarding crime will go down. Before you
know it, Elon men will request to walk
Elon women home at night in order to
ensure their protection.
Campus harmony will be at its peak, as
students from difi^erent backgrounds grow in
friendship and support of each other. Finally,
the student body may become more appre
ciative towards the faculty and staff at Elon
as the Elon community grows together in a
closely-bonded community.
Don’t ever think that your actions do not
matter. With a small change in conduct, I
believe the Elon commimity will be changed
forever in the positive.
Contact Jonathan Fiedler at
pendulum®elon.edu or 278-7247.