Brad Carson: “I have no doubt that when historians look back upon this era in time they will call it the age of petroleum. In 1859…”

“I have no doubt that when historians look back upon this era in time they will call it the age of petroleum. In 1859 when the first oil well was discovered in Pennsylvania, we were a Nation that rode mustangs, a short 100 years later we drove Mustangs, and 10 years after that we walked on the Moon, because of one thing, cheap, easily exploitable petroleum products. The sad fact is, Mr. Chairman, we are running out of this precious commodity. World oil production is to peak in 10 to 20 years. Domestic oil production peaked in 1970. We are running out of oil. It is coming faster than we know. We have in ANWR, it is said, the best pool, the best possible source of resources outside the Caspian Sea, the best and largest pool to be found in nearly 30 years. If the optimists are right and we do not begin to run out of oil in 20 years, that is only 7,000 days away. The time to act is now because it takes nearly 10 years to lease and begin production in ANWR. And if, God save us, the pessimists are right and we begin to run out of oil in 10 years or even 5 years as some would suggest, we will need to begin now so that the petroleum products, the jet fuel, the gasoline, the pharmaceuticals, the plastics, everything that has made industrial life possible can continue for future generations.”