Opinion — The Villagers Voice

Guest Column: Illinois Oil Has Played Big Role in Securing American Freedom and Prosperity

July 1, 2021 by Villagers Voice

By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

As America celebrates this Fourth of July weekend, it is important to remember what has made the enduring freedoms and prosperity we all enjoy possible.

It is widely understood the United States and the free world as we know it would be a much worse place if not for the nearly incomprehensible efforts and sacrifice of the Greatest Generation during World War II. But less understood is the fact that their valiant struggle to defeat the Axis Powers was literally fueled by abundant American oil – much of it produced right here in Illinois. [Read more...]

Seth Whitehead: California and Germany’s Energy Policies Are No Model to Follow

May 13, 2021 by Villagers Voice

By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently said the United States should “replicate” Germany’s taxpayer-funded efforts to transition to renewable energy. Other leaders have suggested similar California energy policies should become a model for the country. [Read more...]

Special Column: The Anti-U.S. Energy Movement Deserves More Scrutiny

March 24, 2021 by Villagers Voice

By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

Energy makes the high standard of living most Americans enjoy possible. Affordable, reliable energy is the lifeblood of our economy. And as University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology director Dr. Scott Tinker recently noted, “All forms of energy come from the earth.” It is with those fundamental facts in mind that “Keep It In the Ground” (KIITG) groups should be viewed as anti-U.S. energy. Though it is obvious traditional energy sources such as oil, natural gas and coal come from the ground, it is often overlooked that wind, solar and battery technologies would not be possible without massive mining projects. [Read more...]

Opinion: Curtailing U.S. Oil and Gas Production Will Forfeit Energy Independence and Increase Emissions

January 28, 2021 by Villagers Voice

By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director – Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

As the United States re-enters the Paris Agreement and President Biden follows through on promises to implement policies aimed at decreasing domestic oil and natural gas production, it is important to reflect on where the United States currently stands with regard to emissions reductions and the country’s long-sought goal of energy independence. [Read more...]

Opinion: “Covid Thoughts” by Rich Gurka

January 19, 2021 by Villagers Voice

1. I have friends for whom I feel so sorry. They’re in their 70s and in excellent health. They live every day in fear of Covid-19. They call in their grocery order, wear masks while driving to the store for pickup, return home, then spray disinfectant on their purchases and let them sit in their garage for a while. They are scared to go outside. The boogeyman awaits. Sadly, there are millions of folks who live like that. [Read more...]

Rich Gurka: 2021 is 1938

January 14, 2021 by Villagers Voice

By Rich Gurka

Opinions are like a certain body part; everybody has one. Here’s mine.

Many folks have been comparing the unfortunate, idiotic, criminal un-American event by a tiny group of numbskulls at the Capitol building to events which took place in Europe during the 1930s. [Read more...]

Governor Pritzker Should Call Legislature Back to Work: One-Man Rule is Not Democratic

November 19, 2020 by Villagers Voice

Legislators Represent the People

State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is requesting that the Governor use his authority to call the General Assembly back to work to address a growing number of issues that need input from the people of Illinois. [Read more...]

Opinion–The Oil ‘Transition’: From ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ to ‘Mine, China, Mine’?

October 31, 2020 by Villagers Voice

Seth Whitehead, Executive Director – Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

As calls for the United States to “transition” away from oil and go 100 percent renewable gain traction, an overlooked question begs to be answered: Is a “mine, baby, mine” policy better than “drill, baby, drill”?

“Keep It In the Ground” groups, of course, are diametrically opposed to both. But ironically, should that movement’s objective of ending all U.S. oil and natural gas development and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy become policy, an unprecedented expansion of mining will be required. And most of it will be done by China. [Read more...]