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If you can't remember last year's massive oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico or you don't worry about a repeat - or you believe the best way to negotiate is to surrender - then members of Congress have a deal for you.
By a vote of 266 to 149, Congress voted last week to force Virginia to exchange its interests for what amounts to promises that have proven empty time and time again. U.S. Reps. Scott Rigell and Rob Wittman - two lawmakers who represent communities that stand to lose the most - voted in favor of rushing to open Virginia's ocean waters to oil companies.
In a real sense, the vote was one in which every member was free to follow his or her partisan bosses. With gas prices at nearly $4 a gallon, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has made it clear that he believes offshore drilling will resonate with voters. By that, he must mean the voters who wouldn't have to deal with the mess if something goes wrong.
But it was also an opportunity for Rigell and Wittman to show their independence from their party's leadership and vote with the best interests of their districts. Both men failed.
Thankfully, the Senate and the White House seem unlikely to elevate the wishes of the oil industry and the federal purse above Virginia's environment and safety.
At least not yet. But the self-destructive pressure from Virginia's leaders is unlikely to abate.
Advocates, including the governor, have accepted as truth that drilling off Virginia's coast will lead to lower gasoline costs (despite the fact that if there is oil off Sandbridge, it will be years before it hits the pump); it will bring jobs (the impact has proven minimal in other coastal communities); drilling can be done safely (see Deepwater Horizon, 2010); and it will produce royalties (there's no current mechanism, and Virginia is shortchanged by federal maps).
The claim that more drilling will significantly lower prices at U.S. gas pumps is perhaps the biggest red herring. Government and private-sector economists alike have noted for more than 30 years that the United States doesn't have enough oil to affect the global market. Silence on the point from the oil industry's lobbying firm, the American Petroleum Institute, should speak volumes. As should the late gyrations in the price of oil, which have more to do with politics and speculation than with supply and demand.
Even under the most optimistic assumptions, drilling off the coast will produce minimal direct benefits unless laws and industry practices are radically changed. They won't be.
Instead, despite all the promises from the governor and lawmakers, the only thing Virginia is likely to get is broken promises and the risk of disaster.
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What about existing rights to drill?
If opening up more drilling rights is a good thing and would bring the prices down, why are the companies not using the drilling leases they already have but not using? AND, if drilling more brings the price down, what incentive do these oil companies have to do that? I mean, what idiot would want to REDUCE their profit margins?
Tapping a resource that doesn't spill or explode
I am writing in support of the views ascribed in this opinion piece. Drilling off Virginia's coast offers a minimal reward and serious risks-- without revenue or local jobs, the promise of offshore oil is empty, and the potential damage to the Chesapeake Bay would pose a catastrophe.
We can bring down fuel prices by driving less and by driving efficient vehicles. And we can create jobs in an offshore energy industry by investing in development of offshore wind power. There is a citizens' summit on offshore wind coming up called Energize Virginia to explore an affordable, clean energy source that doesn't combust, explode, or spill. Please attend if you are interested in Virginia's energy future.
http://energizevirginia.eventbrite.com
For me…
It isn’t as much about fuel prices, as it is the dependence on foreign sources. Several decades ago, the OPEC group was formed. They began to have considerable sway in the world, not because they were progressive or had great manufacturing skills, or because their work force was incredible. Their source of riches and power evolved from oil.
Those very resources we helped them recover, they sell to us at an enormous profit. Unfortunately, some of that very profit is used to fund terrorist and Jihadist.
We need energy independence so we can be free of the self imposed tyranny we have placed upon ourselves and our future generations. Wind, solar, natural gas and oil… We need to develop ALL forms, NOW!
Oil drilling off VA
Every time the subject of drilling for oil comes up the standard enviro nut answer is it will take ten years to start recovering oil. Had the drilling started when the opponents started the ten year thing we would have seen results ten or fifteen years ago. It would be interesting to see how many of the so called environmentalist that make all the anti drilling noise own oil company stock. Stock holders are making a killing right along with the oil companies. A look at the democratic party's stock holders would be a real eye opener. Even if the stock is in a blind trust it still makes money for the holder.
Good job Congressman Rigell
Ahhh, those wacky Democratic Party cheerleaders in the DTFOK are at it again. Here they attack Republicans because they dared to vote in favor of allowing more use of our doemstic resources to help lower the price of fuel at the pump! The horrow of those nasty Republicans! can you imagine?! Trying to help lower the cost of gas and oil? Why, they must hate the working class so much!!
Really?
The Pilot writes:
Advocates, including the governor, have accepted as truth that drilling off Virginia's coast will lead to lower gasoline costs (despite the fact that if there is oil off Sandbridge, it will be years before it hits the pump);
Rebuttal: If the wacky Left had not worked so hard to prevent the ability to make use of our natural resources we may well have a booming oil and natural gas industry up and running right now. But the Left has thrown everything they have to prevent the developing of new domestic oil and gas sources. Further, speculators knowing that domestic sources will be developed would most likely bring down the cost as a natual result of supply and demand and the shift away from the iol and gas production in less secure regions of the world.
Fringe Left Pilot rebuttal continued:
(2) It will bring jobs (the impact has proven minimal in other coastal communities):
The Pilot can't deny that new jobs would be created, so they try to obfusate the point.
(3) Drilling can be done safely (see Deepwater Horizon, 2010);
Wow, decades of oil production and only two major accidents = all oil production is unsafe? Really? I guess we should never fly in a plane again, or ride in a car, or take a train? I guess that means Light rail is unsafe too?
(4) It will produce royalties (there's no current mechanism, and Virginia is shortchanged by federal maps).
This may or may not be the case, but it doesn't mean it will always be the case. Governor McDonnell has been working to improve Virginia's share of royalties. Let us examine who in Congress has been preventing such royalites from becomeing law? Ohhhh, that would be those wacky self-proclaimed "Progressive" Democratic Party folks funded by the Left. Gee, maybe if the entire Congress supported the bills that would have ensured royalties for each state's off shore natural resources this Pilot Talking Point would not longer exist?
To ensure the price at the pump is lowered, we need new domestic refineries as well. New domestic refineries means new jobs for Americans.
New well paying private sector jobs in this economy are a good thing, not a bad thing.
So ... "Drill, Baby, drill" ... NO?
Instead ... "Pay, Baby, pay!" ... YES!
And throw in ... "Higher gas tax, Baby, higher gas tax! ... YES!
What's not to love?