Posted on 09/30/2008 5:12:20 AM PDT by thackney
Congress made a major environmental shift last week when lawmakers dropped a 26-year ban on new offshore oil drilling off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
The vote Wednesday in the House – and in the Senate on Saturday – dismayed environmentalists and delighted oil companies. Yet experts on all sides of the debate say it will be years – if ever – before any new drilling comes to California.
A buzz saw of political opposition, certain lawsuits and existing marine protections all combine to make California perhaps the most difficult place in America to build new offshore oil platforms.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has said he supports drilling off Texas' shores. There already are many rigs just off the coastline.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Let them go to their taxpayers for more taxes while Gulf states get all that revenue.
API President and CEO Red Cavaney’s statement to Congress urges “sound energy policy” after lifting of drilling moratoria
http://www.api.org/Newsroom/upload/Cavaney_Letter_to_Congress_drilling_moratoria_Sept_26_2009.pdf
Dear Member of Congress:
The federal drilling moratoria that have locked up vast amounts of the nation’s oil and natural gas resources for years will expire on September 30. If the right actions are taken going forward, this could mean more ample and secure energy supplies for the American people, more U.S. jobs, and less reliance on imported oil. It could help reduce the costs of energy for transportation, for electric power production, and for home and office heating and cooling.
Our lifestyles, our economic strength, and our national security all depend on ready availability of adequate supplies of energy. If we don’t take steps to control our energy destiny, we put at risk a better future for ourselves and for the generations that follow. Large domestic supplies of oil and natural gas are critical to our energy future. Alternatives are important but cannot yet substitute for the vast amounts of the oil and natural gas we now use and are projected to continue to demand.
A sound national energy policy will encourage energy diversity and conservation. It will push the development of alternatives, encourage greater energy efficiency, but ensure we have the traditional fuels we will continue to require, as well.
The oil and natural gas industry has the technology and know-how to safely bring the resources affected by the moratoria out of the earth and to consumers. But we can’t do that without Congress’s help. Congress can assist by taking the following steps:
- Don’t reimpose the moratoria or create other obstacles, including additional taxes on the oil and natural gas industry, to the development of the plentiful resources the moratoria have kept off-limits.
- Resolve that these resources be developed and call for the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) to schedule lease sales in the most resource rich areas in its next five-year plan.
- Ensure that MMS has the tools and funding to complete the appropriate environmental analysis and proceed with leasing expeditiously.
Our nation has rich reserves of oil and natural gas off its coasts and on its federal lands. These are the birthright of the American people. American consumers need, and will need, these resources. Increasingly these consumers believe those resources should be developed, putting more Americans to work. They are counting on all of us to work together to help make this happen. Sincerely, Red Cavaney
There is plenty of oil in the FEDERAL waters off the West Coast. This country needs to produce that petroleum.
Drilling ain’t going to happen if obama gets in. The dems don’t want growth. They want stagnation so that more people will be dependent on Gov for their livelihood. Hard to see how we win this one with a bad economy.
Does a state have to give its permission in order for drilling to commence? If so, and CA does not give its permission for drilling off its caost, then any oil that is found off other states’ shoes that give their permission should in no way ever find its way to CA’s drivers. Let them drive on air........
No, not for Federal Waters.
See the maps of existing California leases for State Water Boundaries.
http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific/lease/maps.htm
Eventualy the Mexicans will take over in California and then we will see drilling rigs on every beach.
Si Senor.
wait until the enviro lawsuits.
I expect the first one filed tomorrow, the day the actually expires.
There is a glimmer of hope:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28733&page=1
...members of Congress are taking note and preparing a legislative solution to the problem of frivolous lawsuits. Says Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.): “Now it is time to ensure drilling is expedited and prevent liberals from tying energy production up in endless litigation.” Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) has introduced comprehensive legislation to address the issue of anti-oil litigation, calling
praise the ford.
i mean honda.
Energy shouldn’t be sold to states that oppose energy production. Then their tune would change real fast.
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