ABSTRACT

The difference between the political and private determination of energy exploration and development is that in politics one side's losses are the other side's gains; with private control, each side stands to gain by satisfying the other's desires. When energy resources are controlled by the political sector, environmentalists are pitted against exploration and development companies in a setting that encourages confrontation. Even though the energy crisis lessened during the 1980s, exploration efforts on public land continue to fuel the fires of environmental confrontation. Recognizing that politics will determine the distribution of profits from energy resources, both sides will invest time and money lobbying government. The debate over energy development has taken an all-or-nothing approach that often ignores expected costs. Legal disputes add to energy costs as federal environmental assessments of proposed exploration and development are challenged in the courts. The boards would have final authority over the restrictions placed on development.