Along Gulf Coast, a Downside to Surging Oil Production
Oil production along the Gulf Coast has helped cut U.S. crude imports by 20 percent since 2005. But environmentalists say the increased production isn't without drawbacks, including strain on the state's rail, pipeline and highway systems.

Comments (4)
EyesOfTX
Leave it to State Impact and the Texas Tribune to find a negative spin to put on the most massively positive economic development story of our lifetime. Great work!
Adele Roberson
We have brought more refineries online during Obama's first term than we did during all of GWBs time in office. More permits were issued for exploration of gas and oil than under the Bush administration. We didn't get stuck with the full bill for the gulf disaster that the Republicans wanted to apologize to BP for. Yes between the execution of old policies and lack of regulation, we Read More... got soaked during the Bush years and again during this Presidents clean up tour. We can now start moving forward again, unless we repeat past mistakes and allow Mitt $ Company to throw the nation into reverse.
David Spratt
There has been no oil refinery built since 1976 in the U.S.
There are plans to build several in South Dakota and Colorado to process oil shale which is converted in the ground to oil and the Bakken free oil. The enviro nuts are fighting every inch of the way.
We were told 30 years ago it would take 10 years before any fields developed would have any effect,,,,, we were told 20 years ago the same thing ,,,,,,,,, 10 years ago the same script,,,,, Obama has been using it recently AGAIN !!!
Obama has made every attempt to kill the Keystone,,,,, gas prices are double when he took office. Biden debating Palen condemned Bush for the spike in prices at the end of his term as hurting families,,,, What is $4 gas doing today?
Obama's actions of giving several billion to Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico to drill for oil ,, yet attacking American drillers is evidence of his anti-colonialist ideology. I watched him state unequivocally on TV in Brazil that " The U.S. wants to be your best customer." They can drill in the offshore but in the country that taught the rest of the world how to do it ,,,,, we cannot??? It is his attempt to " Redistribute" America's wealth around the world buy transferring billions of $ to lesser countries to supply our energy needs.
We can put men on the Moon within a decade,,, we can send probes to Mars , we can go to the deepest depths of the seas,,,, but we cannot punch a hole in the crust 1 1/2 miles and produced the lifeblood of industry needed to supply the energy necessary to provide for the basic human needs?
Energy production could supply jobs in the millions within the next two years by opening up gulf drilling,,,, which this President has put a stop to,,,, and all Federal lands. In addition the permitting process could be streamlined and cut from the current average of 5 years to gain a permit to drill.
Much as they hate to admit it,, the price of oil is a function of supply side economics,,, more oil on the market means lower prices.. Funny how the Libs condemn even trickle down economics not to be confused with supply side,,,, while they are practicing just that..
They are giving and making money available to all the people at the top , Banks and Corporations,,, expecting this will " trickle down" to the people in the middle and at the bottom. Only difference is it is Government money,,,, our money to begin with,,,,, that they are using. Not the money of the private sector. So they must see some value in " Voodoo Economics" since this seems to be their answer to our current economic woes.
So can someone explain what is the difference besides using private money and government money?
David Spratt
Just one more note,,,, Oil companies, drillers and refiners produce profits,,,, Solar, wind , electric cars and high speed rail have produced nothing but losers... What would you rather invest in?