81wolverine

Mon, Aug 23, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.

Directional drilling is probably pretty safe, so that they can avoid completely going through the water which would risk massive pollution. But is there really enough oil out there to be worth the effort? I think we've fouled up the Lakes enough and need to be putting resources into cleaning them up. I look at drilling for oil a short-term solution to a long term problem: energy self-sufficiency. Until we develop alternative energy sources that are abundant and affordable, we're going to be forced to make difficult decisions like this.

Ian

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 9:31 p.m.

I would not worry about oil companies being allowed to drill in the Great Lakes. The powers be are in the process of shutting down the use of fossil fuels on the bogus claims of man-made global warming and to push cap-n-trade and carbon taxes. Even BP wants it. They will devistate our economy even more; fuel costs will go through the roof; third world nations will starve to death. Only ones to benefit are those at the top.

AfterDark

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 7:58 p.m.

Hey, people, Michigan does not control the Great Lakes. The United States does not even control the Great Lakes. What good does a Michigan or US drilling ban do when Canada is already drilling offshore in Lake Erie?

DonBee

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 7:58 p.m.

With the right rules, oil and gas drilling has been happening in Michigan for almost a century. Don't believe me? Go north of Lansing and Flint, you will see the fields out of the windows of your car. Michigan already has strong laws on resource extraction, they have worked well for a long time. Do some research and some reading on what is already there. Oil drilling today can get to oil miles away from the rig, not just straight down, but to the sides as well. It is called directional drilling. I am all in favor of not letting drilling rigs be built in the water, or even close to the shore. Lets have a buffer of say 1/2 a mile from the water. If companies want to do directional drilling from that far inland, I am willing to look at the environmental impact statements. I think we need to not let hysteria take hold here on either side. We need to really think about what we want the state to be. The state government has stopped a lot of logging in the UP, that has lead to a loss of jobs and people having to leave to find work elsewhere. Not just in oil and timber, but other industries as well. Factory and resource jobs typically pay more than service jobs for entry level people. You want good wages? Help fix the great State of Michigan. Education is important, but so are businesses that provide places to work. Do your own research. It may turn out you still decide you need more rules and want this, and it may turn out that you decide that there are enough rules in place now. Remember, we may ban drilling and Ontario, or Wisconsin or Illinois may not. Then we have the same problems but by my reading with looser rules. Banning it in Michigan does not make the problem go away, it only makes the jobs go away.

denise1inaa

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 7:46 p.m.

The problem is: all the drilling in the WORLD will not solve the demand of our use of OIL. It (the drilling) will only pollute. OIL is a FINITE resource. What will we do when to dig the oil out is more expensive than it pays for itself: it can be SO EXPENSIVE that to DIG FOR IT pays less than to SELL IT. This is what we face as a nation.

sbbuilder

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 6:59 p.m.

While we continue to dither around with where its OK to drill for oil (not in the Alaska Wildlife Refuge, not in the Great Lakes, not in the eastern Gulf of Mexico), the point may become moot. China, among a host of other nations, is currently buying up oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico north of Cuba, and within 45 miles of the Keys. How's that for in your face diplomacy. So, while we wring our hands and fret and delay, the rest of the world is going to go right on drilling. The problem here is that slant drilling will most certainly be used to tap into reserves in our territory. How do you like that? http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/politifact-stearns-claim-about-chinese-oil-drilling-in-gulf-of-mexico-is/1085129

stunhsif

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 6:32 p.m.

@jcj, Remember, you need water to make Kool-Aid but perhaps like me, you don't drink the Kool-Aid!

jcj

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 6:22 p.m.

As was aid on another thread. The Sky is falling The Sky is falling.

katie

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:43 p.m.

The Great Lakes are an important resource since they contain about one sixth of the world's freshwater supply. Yet, you will hear that these companies have the "right to drill" there. How long can a person live without water? Well, if we destroy that much of the world's freshwater with oil spills and other chemicals, people will die. The land around the lakes will die. The animals in and around the lakes will die. We will have the Coast Guard telling us we can't use the Great Lakes, not even to take pictures of oil covered seagulls. It's happening right now in other places. Even the Kalamazoo spill had law enforcement on their side, keeping people from the information they need to make good decisions. Then they squawk about their "right to drill." The right to drill? That's no right compared to my right to use the Lakes, my right to take pictures of the wildlife that are not covered in oil. My right not to die of thirst. Don't give up your rights to the big corporations. Don't let them drill. Under no circumstances should they drill. Are we going to trust the scoundrels who are lying to us about the Gulf of Mexico, trying to squeeze out every penny of profit at the expense of safeguards that cost a little more. Look at the records of these companies, folks. If you are in favor of this drilling, I just hope that, if they drill, it's the water of you and your family that they destroy, while they leave the water for my family and friends intact. Unfortunately, we don't have that choice, do we? So, if you are for it and "win" the companies' "right" to drill, we would all lose together. It's your right not to be dehydrated when the place where you live has ample freshwater. Don't expect this right to be protected unless you make your voice heard. My way of life includes first, my right to drink water. It includes my right use the Great Lakes to fish or boat. It includes my right to view any public place that I choose. My way of life goes back in history to these kinds of rights, rights that preceded the use of oil. The oil will eventually run out. Our rights are the foundation of our way of life, not oil.

jcj

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:31 p.m.

I have lived here all my life. And I will support candidates that are open to all measures that will help insure the way of life we are starting to lose because of all the government regulations! I will not support any candidate that is jumping in the hysteria line about drilling for oil anywhere in this country! If any of you have enjoyed your way of life I urge you to vote against the candidates that are blindly against drilling! Thanks to you Aoxue Tang For The Platform

Speechless

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:29 p.m.

Didn't we do this topic just yesterday? Anyway, for a more detailed background, here again are links to earlier articles on the proposed Michigan constitutional ban on oil drilling in the Great Lakes, which recently passed through the state House of Representatives' environment committee: http://www.annarbor.com/news/constitutional-ban-on-drilling-in-great-lakes-could-come-before-michigan-voters-this-november/ http://www.annarbor.com/news/michigan-drilling-ban-legislation-moves-through-committee-today-in-state-house/

stunhsif

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 5:12 p.m.

I will make for certain that I support elected officials who support drilling for oil in the Great Lakes, it just makes sense. Jobs for Michigan folks, tax revenues for Michigan and more oil for Amercia! I have lived here since 1972 and have no worries about drilling for oil in the great lakes. Good Day No Luck Needed

denise1inaa

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 4:17 p.m.

I am 57 years old and born in old Detroit. My heritage is French-Canadian and I love our Great Lakes State. PLEASE let us save the Great Lakes from oil drilling. We can make sacrifices for this endeavor, we CANNOT reclaim nature once it is destroyed. Oil availablity will someday become extremely limited, why don't we invest in/sacrifice for/preserve our environment.

sbbuilder

Sun, Aug 22, 2010 : 4:14 p.m.

What! Another article on a ban on drilling in the Great Lakes, and with the 'Big Oil' sobriquet thrown in for good measure. Like the Gipper once said "There he goes again...."