Kenneth B. Medlock III, fellow in energy studies at the Baker Institute, writes an op-ed about why the moratorium on drilling in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) should be lifted.

As the price of gasoline reaches unprecedented highs, Americans have begun to actively think about ways to lower fuel prices. Recent government statistics indicate 2007 saw the largest year-on-year decline in miles driven since the late 1970s. Record-high crude oil prices are the primary reason for record-high gasoline prices, and a confluence of factors is responsible for the recent run-up in crude oil prices. One important factor behind the strength of oil prices is the expectation of inadequate future oil supply. This has led to a debate regarding the removal of drilling access restrictions in the OCS.

View opinion piece