■ 13 January 2009 | 10:50 AM
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Moran today issued a statement opposing current federal efforts to advance the prospect of offshore drilling for natural gas or oil in the Atlantic Ocean off Virginia's coastline.
"We cannot solve 21st century energy challenges with 19th century fossil fuel," Moran said in a written statement released Tuesday, the same day the public comment period on the first stage of environmental analysis for possible drilling concludes.
Offshore leasing wouldn't begin until at least 2011, according to the federal Minerals Management Service, the agency which initiated the recent process that could eventually allow drilling.
Moran, a former House of Delegates member, repeated a request made recently by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and other lawmakers who urged the federal Minerals Management Service to extend the comment period to Feb. 28, at which point President-elect Barack Obama would be in office.
The original comment period deadline was Dec. 29; it was extended to Jan. 13.
In his statement, Moran claimed "the Bush administration is trying to push through an agenda that's harmful to our environment, damages our tourism economy, and limits the Navy's ability to protect America."
State law contains language supporting federal government efforts to determine the extent of natural gas resources at least 50 miles off the shorline. Adopted in 2006, that langugage does not mention oil exploration or specifically advocate for offshore drilling.
Spokespeople for the two other Democratic candidates for governor -- state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, and Terry McAuliffe -- said each favors exploration in accordance with state policy, and the inclusion of concerned stakeholders in the process.
-- Julian Walker
Subscribe to this blog
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
