The U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted
today to reverse a 24 year congressional moratorium on offshore natural
gas exploration. By a 37-25 vote, the committee approved the amendment
from U.S. Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.) that would eliminate the ban in
the 2007 Interior and Environment Spending bill. California
Representatives Lewis and Doolittle voted for the amendment.
Today’s
vote in Congress represents the most far reaching and damaging attack on California's coastal
protections against offshore drilling that we have ever seen.
For decades,
Congress has granted nearly every wish that the oil and gas industry has asked
for, nearly always at the expense of the environment and consumers. Today’s
vote is more of the same – false promises to consumers and more profits
for the fossil fuel barons.
Offshore oil and gas drilling is the slowest, dirtiest and most
expensive way to produce energy. Opening our coast to destructive drilling
would do little to lower gas prices or make us energy independent, but it would
threaten our beaches with pollution and potential oil spills and put at risk
multi-billion dollar coastal tourism economies and fishing industries.
There are cheaper, cleaner, faster and longer-term energy solutions like energy
efficiency and clean, renewable energy that will start saving consumers and
businesses money today and protect our beaches, marine waters and coastal
economies.
The battle to protect California's
world famous beaches and marine waters now shifts to the full House of
Representatives. We can win this fight, but only if the California
Congressional delegation unites in opposition and says “no” to
drilling rigs as close as 10 miles from our coast.
Environment California
applauds the three major gubernatorial candidates who all issued public
statements condemning today’s action in Congress, but we urge the officials
to do more then just issue press releases. The candidates need to pick up the phone
and call every member of the delegation and tell them that when this issue
comes to the floor, they need to vote NO.
