See, it’s this kind of shit that I’m worried about. Really worried about. EVen Christie isn’t for this, and even though he’s a Republican, I really like the things he’s done.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/033110_NJ_politicians_environmentalists_blast_Obama_drilling_plan_.html
N.J. politicians, environmentalists blast Obama drilling plan
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Last updated: Wednesday March 31, 2010, 7:32 PM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
The Record
New Jersey Democrats, Republicans and environmentalists on Wednesday attacked President Obamaâ??s plan to open the Atlantic coastline south of New Jersey for oil and natural gas drilling â?? a move they said could put New Jerseyâ??s beaches and tourism industry at risk.
â??It makes no sense environmentally or economically,â?? said David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. â??Best case scenario we will get grease balls on our beaches, but we could also get a catastrophe. This could undermine our tourism, which is one of the top three industries in New Jersey.â??
At a press conference Wednesday, Obama announced plans to allow exploration off the Atlantic coastline from Delaware on south to the central coast of Florida. Drilling would also be allowed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, if a congressional moratorium is lifted, as well as along the northern coast of Alaska. Exploration off Virginia could begin as early as 2012.
While drilling would be prohibited off the coasts of New Jersey â?? as well as the New York, New England and Pacific coasts â?? New Jersey officials and environmentalists said drilling off the Atlantic coastline would cause real harm to the Jersey Shore. Prevailing currents along the Atlantic coast move south to north, so any spill from drilling activity off Delaware or Virginia coasts would inevitably befoul New Jersey beaches, environmentalists said.
Governor Christie also expressed concern about offshore drilling Wednesday. â??I oppose the idea of drilling off the coast of New Jersey,â?? Christie said, noting that Obamaâ??s proposal includes areas off the northern tip of Delaware near Cape May. â??New Jerseyâ??s coastline is one of our economic engines and I would have to be really convinced of both the economic viability and environmental safety of oil and gas exploration off our coast. At this point, Iâ??m not convinced.
He said he would withhold judgment for now about whether to join any lawsuit that might arise to block the presidentâ??s policy.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, like Obama a Democrat, issued an even stronger statement condemning the plan.
â??Giving big oil more access to our nationâ??s waters is really a kill, baby, kill policy â?? it threatens to kill jobs, kill marine life and kill coastal economies that generate billions of dollars,â?? said Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
â??Offshore drilling isnâ??t the solution to our energy problems, and I will fight this policy and continue to push for 21st century clean energy solutions,â?? he said.
Lautenberg noted that when the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil in Alaska in 1989, the oil spread 470 miles. The Virginia coast is less than 100 miles from New Jersey. And drilling off Delawareâ??s northernmost shore could potentially put rigs within 12 miles off the coast of Cape May, environmentalists said.
The beaches and beach towns of New Jersey generate about $50 billion in economic activity yearly and employ nearly 500,000, Lautenberg said. He noted that when medical waste washed up on a New Jersey beach in 1988, â??a panic ensuedâ?? and the state lost a third of its annual tourism revenue.
The stateâ??s multibillion-dollar fishing industry would also be threatened, said Sen. Bob Menendez, who said he was â??deeply concerned about the threat coastline drilling poses to the Jersey Shoreâ??s economy.â??
But Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo, whose district also includes Shore communities, said Obamaâ??s announcement echoes his own position on expanding offshore drilling. â??While my opposition to drilling off New Jersey has not changed, I have supported legislation allowing states to decide if they want to explore off their shores,â?? LoBiondo said in a statement. â??Combined with increased nuclear, solar, wind, biofuels and conservation efforts, expanded offshore drilling will enhance our national security and lead our country to energy independence.â??
The Obama policy would open large areas to drilling for the first time. Research conducted in the 1970s and 1980s indicated the presence of oil deposits off the Atlantic shoreline.
â??Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth and produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we are going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy,â?? the president said Wednesday.
Critics see the move as a way for Obama to court Republican votes for climate change legislation.
But Menendez said he told the Obama administration that if they do not protect New Jersey from the effects of coastal drilling in the climate change bill, then his vote is in question. At the very least, he said, drilling should be prohibited within 125 miles of the Jersey shoreline. Under the plan announced Wednesday, drilling must be done at least 3 miles from shore and in federal waters.
Obama seemed ready Wednesday for criticism.
â??There will be those who strongly disagree with this decision,â?? he said. â??But what I want to emphasize is that this announcement is part of a broader strategy that will move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies more on homegrown fuels and clean energy.â??
Obama mentioned areas where the administration has invested in clean energy projects, such as producing advanced batteries for more efficient vehicles, upgrading the power grid, and doubling capacity to generate wind and solar power.
Thursday the administration will announce that new standards for auto efficiency will be finalized.
E-mail: oneillj@northjersey.com
