The following statement, by the Virginia Sierra Club, basically sums up my views on this one (see video of Senators Warner and Kaine talking about their legislation to to “Expand Offshore Energy Leases”). Given the grave environmental problems posed by fossil fuels (first and foremost being climate change), as well as the rapidly declining costs of solar and wind, as well as the fact that we’d get (by far) more “bang for the buck” from energy efficiency, combined with the risks posed by offshore oil and gas development, I’m not even sure why we’re talking about offshore oil drilling (or an “all of the above” strategy). It’s simply the wrong approach, the wrong way of thinking, the wrong way to go, the wrong…everything, basically. Ugh.
Statement of Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter Director Glen Besa on announcement of Warner-Kaine support for offshore drilling
“As we saw with the Gulf oil disaster, oil spills decimate tourism and fishing industries. In Virginia, that means risking over $2.5 billion and over 100,000 jobs in industries that depend on healthy ocean and Chesapeake Bay waters and clean beaches,” said Glen Besa with the Sierra Club. “It’s a risk that remains real as large spills continue to occur around the world and as Congress has yet to pass a single law strengthening federal oversight of offshore oil and gas development.”
“It is disappointing that so many Virginian politicians of both parties seem willing to jeopardize our strong coastal tourism and fisheries industries for a policy of drill every where and burn it all now that ignores environmental, climate and national security concerns,” said Besa.
P.S. I checked with Rep. Jim Moran’s office to see what they thought of this legislation, and they responded, “The Congressman does not support drilling of Virginia’s coast.”
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