What does oil spill in Gulf of Mexico mean to exploration in Alaska?

As word spreads that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico looks worse every day, people who are against off-shore drilling are reloading with more ammunition.

It wasn’t that long ago President Obama surprised a lot of folks when he backed off-shore drilling in several areas of the country — including the Gulf, where the slick appears to be heading toward environmentally sensitive areas. If this spill had occurred prior to Obama’s decision, would he have made the same decision?

One would think he would take pause.

Many Alaskans are watching this spill and remembering the tragic toll the Exxon Valdez took here.

Some say the Prince William Sound ecosystem is still recovering. Fishing has improved there and recently reports came out that shrimp are being caught in record numbers.

But you will never convince those who tried to wash beaches of oil that the Sound will ever be truly clean.

If, or when, the latest Gulf spill hits some of the coastal wildlands that are homes to many species of birds and other wild animals, this battle will open again and it will be furious.

In another development that’s a disappointment to people in Massachusetts, specifically Cape Cod, an off-shore wind farm was approved by the federal government. Why the angst? Some cited danger to wild fowl, but the underlying complaint was that it would destroy the seascape — five miles away.

These people — the Kennedys et al. — should just pipe down. Their coast is in no danger of being overrun with crude oil loosed from a downed windmill.

The nation is in a damned if you do and damned if you don’t situation.

In the short term, we still need oil and the only way to get it is to drill where it’s at. Locally, coal is getting the same treatment. Until everyone begins conserving as best they can, digging and drilling will continue.

Our only other hopes are wind, solar, hydro power, tides and even nuclear power. None of those options will be accepted carte blanche. Imagine a wind farm out your window with blades casting shadows all day across your walls in a hypnotic way. Solar here will be effective only part of the time and in the winter you’ll be scooping snow off panels. Tidal turbines will kill fish and whales.

The worries go on.

And so does the spill down south, creeping toward unnecessary destruction.