Earlier this week President Obama released a statement regarding the nation's energy needs .(Thanks Alex K for finding this).He announced the plan to expand offshore drilling, or as he more pleasantly put it, "offshore oil and gas exploration." To justify this action, he pointed toward the need for continued economic growth and the expansion of employment opportunities. Given the current financial situation, I found that this statement would gain the support of Americans who are more concerned with employment their economic well-being over their carbon footprint.
Although it involves the lifting of decade old bans on offshore drilling, his proposal falls in between the two poles of economic expansion and environmental protection. His argument against not opening all areas to offshore drilling is that our large percentage of consumption would not be matched by our potential harvesting of oil. His argument against the view that no new drilling areas should be opened appears less factual. He claims it is "part of a broader strategy" to move towards cleaner native energy. How exactly does expanding drilling zones push the nation towards adapting environmentally friendly fuels? I look forward to seeing this energy plan currently under construction in the Senate.
Opposing opinions have already been made by politicians, including the Democrat's leading candidates for Senate. Ken Lewis argued drilling would only divert attention from developing cleaner energy. Other democrats such as former state secretary Cal Cunningham are hesistant about drilling but open to seeing how far this plan takes us. In the meantime drill, baby, drill.
-Steph F
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