Judy Patrick

My name is Judy Patrick.  I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska, a professional commercial photographer and graphic design firm owner with offices in Anchorage.

I want to express my strong support for offshore exploration and development in Alaska and elsewhere.

Without question, our country and our state need more supplies of oil and gas for the future. 

Even optimistic assumptions about renewable energy sources indicate that in 20 years renewables will provide less than 10 percent of our overall energy needs, so quite simply we need more supply.

The benefits of offshore drilling to this state and our nation are clear:

• reliable, affordable energy that our economy and our communities need
• jobs created here in Alaska and elsewhere in the US; good jobs at high wages in a technologically advanced industry
• revenues and fees for the federal, state and local governments
• environmental oversight and regulation and the ability to hold those who develop and explore to high standards
• and finally reduced dependence on foreign energy sources.

To me, the threshold question is:  we must have more oil and gas to meet our long term needs in this country, so where to we get it?

Do we develop here at home, or do we rely more on those same nations who supply much of our energy now, like Venezuela, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.  Those three are among the top five suppliers of oil to the United States now, and I can’t believe there is a thinking person in this hall today who believes that increasing our dependence on energy from those nations is a good long term plan for our country.

In the same way, do we develop here at home where we have strong environmental standards and oversight which, while never perfect, are certainly among the best in the world.  Or do we encourage more development overseas, where strict environmental standards and regulatory oversight are at best lackluster and at worst non-existent ? 

Today we will hear from some outspoken opponents of offshore drilling in Alaska and the Lower 48.  I would suggest that their position is hypocritical.  They object to exploration and drilling here to protect the environment, and all their opposition will do is force development where there is less oversight and less protection for the land and water.  They object to drilling here at home, and they only force increased US reliance on overseas suppliers, which puts our long term economic security in the hands of South American dictators and oil sheiks. 

Just saying no to offshore drilling does not constitute a plan for the future.

We need a solid, well-thought out, realistic energy plan for this country, and offshore exploration and development must be an integral part of that solution.