DRILL, baby, DRILL! Obama to Set Plan on Offshore Drilling

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration is expected Wednesday to unveil a long-awaited five-year national offshore oil and natural-gas drilling plan, which may include new drilling off the Virginia coast.

The plan is expected to say when and where companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell PLC can explore off the coasts of long-proven oil states such as Texas, Alaska and Louisiana. It also is expected to open new offshore areas to exploration between 2012 and 2017.

Industry officials say the administration is likely to offer a lease sale for exploration blocks off the Virginia coast. This section had been previously set for a 2011 lease sale before the White House pulled it from the program last year. They also expect the plan to include a timeline for seismic surveys to assess potential resources in the Atlantic and a schedule for decisions on possible future lease sales off the U.S. East Coast.

The issue of expanding offshore drilling has become a critical lever in a broader debate over climate and energy legislation. The Obama administration and congressional Democrats have been trying to forge a climate and energy proposal that can overcome opposition from Republicans and a bloc of coal-state Democrats in the Senate...

Both the White House and the Interior Department declined to comment.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304739104575153922665431994.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[peacebird]

1. so Obama is going to offer up huge subsidies for alternative fuels to make this palatable, right?

As a Virginian I do not want oil/gas drilling off the coast. As an American I would prefer to hold our reserves as long as possible to help us after peak oil while we (and the world) are still struggling to get affordable alternatives in place. Alternatives that WE and the world are NOT adequately funding research for now.

[nuncvendetta]

2. Obama v. Obama

2008 Obama: “When I’m president, I intend to keep in place the moratorium here in Florida and around the country that prevents oil companies from drilling off Florida’s coasts. It’s not going to provide short-term relief or medium-term relief or in fact long-term relief. It won’t drop prices in this administration or in the next administration or in the administration after that”


So much for that.

[madfloridian]

3. He said he would do that....from 2008. He made it clear.

Obama supports the offshore drilling plan of the Gang of 10.

Obama in Lakeland refers to drilling

Friday, he said he was still not a fan of drilling, telling the Palm Beach paper, "I think it's important for the American people to understand we're not going to drill our way out of this problem."

Obama also said, in a separate statement issued by his campaign, that he supported the bipartisan energy plan offered by 10 senators Friday.

"Like all compromises, it also includes steps that I haven't always supported," he said. "I remain skeptical that new offshore drilling will bring down gas prices in the short term or significantly reduce our oil dependence in the long term, though I do welcome the establishment of a process that will allow us to make future drilling decisions based on science and fact."

The proposal would end most of the ban on drilling. It would allow a 50-mile buffer on the East Coast, as well as Florida's Gulf Coast. Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina would be permitted to start oil and natural gas exploration outside the buffer.

More on the Gang of 10:

The Gang of 10 proposal would encourage states to allow drilling off their shores by sharing some of the federal offshore royalty revenues with the states. But unlike the other four states, Florida would not get a choice on whether to allow drilling off its coasts. When asked why not, Chambliss said, "It's only a logical extension of what's happening in the Gulf right now. Plus, that area has been identified as an area where resources are available right now."

Now after all that it has been found there is not much oil off Florida's shore.

Offshore Florida oil: Not much there, there

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 26, 2010……..A new report says drilling in Florida waters would “have no discernible impact” on gas prices or the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but could pump millions into state coffers.

The Senate-commissioned report by the Collins Center for Public Policy studied the potential impact of drilling in state waters within 10.3 miles of the Florida Gulf coast. The report did not give tax revenue estimates for oil and gas produced in Florida waters, but said other Gulf states have seen annual revenues from $52 million to $200 million over the past several years.

However, the report also said that the state’s estimated oil reserves – less than 100 million barrels – would satisfy the U.S. demand for oil for less than a week.

“Estimated oil reserves in federal waters in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico are more substantial (a little less than 4 billion barrels),” the report said.

[Mojorabbit]

32. This is my line in the sand with the Prez

Tourism is our lifeblood here in Fl. Our coastal nurseries for fish are an important part of the ecosystem. Off shore fishing brings in big bucks. This just breaks my heart. I am done. I just don't care anymore. This news just devastated me today. I love the natural beauty of this state... what is left of it anyway. No matter how F'd up the state is politically , whenever I land at the airport here after being away, I feel at home in my deepest being. I will spend my donation money on whoever mounts a fight against this.

[mmonk]

4. Don't let any oil slick accidents make its way to the NC coast

and our National Seashore sights or some of us are going to be raising hell.

[flyarm]

28. Our Fla News showed a map of the areas that were opened up by Obama ..

it runs down the east coast from VA through the north east section of Florida..as well as the Gulf of Mexico..

NC is not free of this..your state is included in this!!

It was shown on our news very clearly tonight!

[earth mom]

5. So how in the hell is this any different than * & Palin's "Drill Baby Drill"?

:puke:

[Double T]

8. BO wants to be reelected for a second term. Therefore..........

there is SOMETHING for everyone and arguing points by the RW keep fading away. Brilliant!

[Bluebear]

10. Right, he has taken Palin's chant away from her.

Very clever!

[crazyjoe]

14. So the environment isn't as important as Obama getting re-elected?

[Double T]

23. For me, the environment is the MOST important.

I learned long ago what I think doesn't really matter to the political and government powers.

[flyarm]

30. well he just lost Florida..and the democrats, progressives , liberals , Environmentalists..

with this..he already lost the teachers unions with the bullshit his plan is doing to the public schools here in Fla..and the teachers unions..

and he lost the seniors with his health insurance fucking of seniors..

Some dems I have worked very closely with ( elected dems) were questioning today..is Obama deliberately trying to lose our state in 2012?????????? Is he deliberately giving the White House back to the GOP?? and deliberately fucking a democratic congress?????


This is about the biggest hot button subject to dems in Florida!

This is A 100% REPUBLICAN POLICY!

[DCBob]

22. Lets see what the plan includes.. I suspect there will be more to it than "drill baby drill"..

We have only heard leaks from people who shouldn't be leaking. I suspect as part of the announcement today there will be new funding for alternative fuels development. BTW, until we have a legitimate alternative to oil, the drilling must go on. Oil is what "drives" our modern society.

[flyarm]

31. iT WAS STATED VERY CLEARLY on the Tampa Florida News Tonight by an environmental Professor

from a Florida Univ.

1. This is not for national security reasons

2. It will not increase supply of oil

3. It will not create jobs

This professor said it was strictly for oil corporate profits.

[HughMoran]

6. "This section had been previously set for a 2011 lease sale..."

[spanone]

7. withholding judgement till facts arrive

[Bluebear]

9. well of course

[Subdivisions]

11. Why do they have to open offshore oil drilling? What's next, ANWR? n/t

[Bluebear]

12. Sigh.

We shall see.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

13. K & R!

[Vinca]

15. On a positive note, this sure puts a crimp in Palin's style.

[shotten99]

16. My thoughts exactly. A shrewd move, but I disagree with it.

[Jakes Progress]

17. Just think how positive it would be then to double the tax cuts for the rich.

Boy, that would show them.

[Vinca]

19. I hope you realize my post was tongue in cheek.

I'm so disillusioned with Obama at this point, I'm searching for anything humorous in it all.

[Jakes Progress]

21. I did.

As was mine. You have to wonder if he only wanted one term anyway. I just can't go back into the hundreds of living rooms I did before the election and sell this. I don't have the heart for it. We will hear a lot of "Well, he's better than xxx" and if you don't support everything he does, the republicans win". I think they did. We got a Democratic president and a republican agenda.

[Hannah Bell]

20. she's a zero. crimping her style has nothing to do with it. she's a reality show.

her 15 minutes is up, except to be waved like a bloody flag to scare the rubes.

reading further, i guess you agree.

[Lex]

26. Let's hope he's not setting policy based on what crimps Palin's style.

nt

[flyarm]

33. actually on Florida news tonight ..they painted Obama as a bold faced liar..

they showed numerous Video clips of what Obama said during the primaries and pres campaign..here in Florida while campaigning ..

then they showed the Palin clips..

they showed Obama lying to Floridians!

It made Palin look truthful and Obama a liar.

And tonight protestors are going nuts in St Pete..against this and Obama!

The protestors were originally there to protest Newt Gingrich..now tonight they are protesting Obama..and per 11 pm news, they said the crowds have grown huge tonight!

The Seirra club is there, the tourism board leader is there..( they are two group leaders they just showed on TV) ..They are ripping Obama a new one!! The emails all day and night among Democrats are mad as hell, here in Florida!

The word that keeps being repeated is ..Betrayed!! and SOLD OUT!


Among dems and environment activists, progressives and liberals...the anger is boiling over..

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. Since Repuglicans are against everything he does then

is he playing chess?


Anyway I don't like it period.

[Nikki Stone1]

24. K & R

.

[Lex]

25. This is so disappointing. Bad policy.

In the long run it solves nothing.

[bvar22]

27. Brilliant!

Simply move to The Right and implement Republican Policy, then "they" have nothing to run on !!!
Big WIN for The Democrats !!!
Where is the Victory Parade?
:party:

[pleah]

29. Bad. Sad.

:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: