There is one other reason. This is an election year and Bush & co. must appear to be doing something constructive. If there is a myth at work, it is that oil shale will ever generate a significant output of usable oil.quote from Pekelo
Oh, you dumb%$^&, you.... [shaking head]
The only reason we are talking about oil SHALE, because CRUDE oil production is peaking. Now go educate yourself about peak coal (yes, it peaked too in the US), peak uranium, etc...
The only thing that can not peak is people's stupidity...
Also look up the rate of production and the (lack of) aviable water for oil shale...
http://srb.stanford.edu/nur/GP200A Papers/elliot_grunewald_paper.pdf