Our easy energy hunger takes us to the last frontier - the Arctic

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umanity’s hunger for the easy energy locked into fossil fuels has taken us into the last frontier.

The Obama administration has given Shell the nod to go ahead and exploit the Arctic.

fuelfix in the Houston Chronicle reports: “Shell is set to launch a new round of Arctic drilling within days, after receiving critical federal permits that could force the company to halt work thousands of feet above potential oil deposits.

“Under the limited Interior Department drilling permits, Shell can only focus on one well at a time, and it cannot penetrate potential oil- and gas-bearing zones some 8,000 feet underground, at least until a damaged company-contracted icebreaker returns from repairs in Oregon.”

Read the fuelfix story - “Obama administration OKs Arctic drilling, but imposes big constraints on Shell”.

Fossil fuel companies gleefully plunge into the artic in search of profits

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ossil fuel companies long excluded from the frozen artic rub their hands with glee as hitherto frozen deposits become accessible.

Sweeping warnings that whatever fossil fuels are already in the ground should stay in the ground seem inaudible to companies bedazzled by the potential profits which until now have been hidden below the frozen artic.

fuelfix in the Houston Chronicle reports: “Shell’s contracted Polar Pioneer drilling rig began its 12-day trek to Alaska on Monday, though Arctic drilling opponents in kayaks were trying to block its exit from Puget Sound.

“By early afternoon, at least 24 protesters had been detained by the Coast Guard and fined $500 for violating a 500-yard safety zone around the rig. The rig itself also stopped moving Monday afternoon, after a slow initial transit that saw two tugboats pulling the Polar Pioneer away from its months-long perch at Terminal 5 in the Port of Seattle.

“It is headed first to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, a waypoint on its journey to the Chukchi Sea northwest of Alaska.”

Read the fuelfix story - “Shell drilling rig leaves Seattle for Alaska waters”.