[RN7]

Originally Posted by Cdnwolf

The biggest problem is that to extract the oil you need a technique called fracking which creates a whole new sort of problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing

There is no doubt its a complicated process, and there will be a lot of opposition from environmentalists, but its now viable and a majority of the worlds new oil and gas wells are now being hydraulically fractured. Conventional oil drilling is neither clean or easy either, offshore drilling is expensive and very complicated, and nuclear power and green energy also has its drawbacks and limitations.

But the economics of it are to large to ignore. Complete independence in energy supply, in fact America would become the worlds largest exporter by a country mile and it could change world trade patterns. It could also change the foreign policy of America and others. The Arabs must be worried as there will no longer be a need to suck up to their distasteful regimes in the Middle East, and spend a fortune basing military forces there as no one will need their oil anymore. Its a massive boost to America's economic future.