Maybe not?
The Obama administration recently expressed support of a repeal of the moratorium on offshore drilling along the East Coast.
In light of the horrific Gulf Coast oil spill, should we permanently ban the expansion of offshore drilling?
Comments
1. Tim said...
Not only should we ban expansion ,we should suspend all present drilling and truly seek alternative green solutions.
3. RobertB said...
I’m not sure who Jim’s target audience is but common sense needs to be applied in all situations…be it drilling for domestic oil or the recent killing of students and teachers that are taking place on our University campuses. You have to assess the issues and come up with a logical solution, prior to moving to the next step. To set a mandate and jump the gun prior to research, can be a recipe for disaster. Similar to your email, Who said no more drilling; Who said it was an accident; How do you know drilling is safe and what’s up with the windmills? Here we go again with constructive criticism from our “Conservative friends.” Their words are like shaft in the wind… it dries up and fade away. Stop making assumptions, they may come back to bite you!
4. Sara said...
The moratorium should be place until regulatory agencies can assure us that there are protocols for such incidents.
5. Biz said...
Offshore drilling can be done safely.BP will have to take full responsibility.We dont need more regulation,but systematic industry wide safety standards.
6. Maya said...
If offshore drilling is so safe,why can't BP seem to be able to fix the leak?Industry Regulation? What? Cmon Biz.Why do you continue to misinform?
7. Jon said...
Ban any expansion until controls can be put in place.
9. Barry said...
It is a shame that this issue has been pushed to page two thanks to the one sidedness of the media who is so focused on the Supreme Court nominee.We can not give BP a pass while we argue the race and gender of the next appointee.Yes,the ban needs to be permanent and BP must be forced to fix this mess quick and in a hurry.
10. Biz said...
Maya,it is not misinformation to suggest that a ban on offshore drilling is an over reaction to an isolated ,albeit serious incident.
11. Carol said...
In my humble opinion, we need to cut dependency on foreign suppliers, we may need to examine the procedures that are currently in place in our offshore drilling sites and we need to do our best to ensure that there are proven accident protocols in place to help us quickly and effectively recover from accidents that happen in the first place. If it means that we must find greener ways to supplement our energy needs then let’s do it. (Note I use the word supplement). If it means that we may have to temporarily hold off on drilling then let’s do it (Note I use the word temporarily). But to go blindly forward without creating and implementing proven contingency plans is absolutely irresponsible and not safe for us as a nation and our environment. They go hand in hand. As much as I don’t like the idea of drilling, hate the thought of our dependency increasing to the point of being on bent knee even more.
12. Peter Staats said...
Why the knee jerk reactions to every headline that shows how dangerous it is to live in modern society. Stop all the drilling because an oil well failed. Why not stop all driving because 42,000 people die in traffic accidents each year? Or let's stop treating people in hospitals because 780,000 people die each year from medical mistakes. Get a grip!
13. Vance said...
Peter,not sure if your numbers are that accurate,but point well taken. We seem to need a crisis of the hour to keep our attention.
14. Baye Kambui said...
I see the problem as one where the Obama Administration hasn't doubled down on an energy strategy. If the Administration’s choice is going to be oil, then the U.S. needs to do what China appears to be doing -- buying foreign oil companies or otherwise inking more deals to secure its consumption needs. If the Administration's bet is going to be clean energy, then more aggressive investment needs to be made in this area while preparing for the reality that the payoff will not be immediate. On the subject of clean energy, China has a nearly 2:1 investment advantage over the U.S.
The fact that the regulatory authorities have been beaten to sleep over the years may only explain part of the issue with offshore drilling. We can talk about how infrequent offshore accidents occur, but it’s quite apparent that the social cost of one accident can be prohibitively high. I would recommend maintaining the moratorium on offshore drilling to get a better understanding of how this risk can be managed, if at all.
More broadly, the Administration needs a more aggressive but balanced energy policy. We’re not going to drive around in particle beam-powered cars next week, but no one’s been able to prove that we have unlimited oil either…
song currently stuck in my head: “voyage” – charlotte gainsbourg
15. Biz said...
Baye,I agree.I bet you are surprised. There is hope for you yet.LOL
16. Baye Kambui said...
(Laughing)
I dunno, Biz. I'm searching the heavens for a sign...
song currently stuck in my head: "williams' blood (yam who cosmic jam mix) - grace jones
17. Jesse said...
I agree that we need to cut our dependence on foreign oil,but not at the expense of our shores.It is beyond comprehension that BP (or our government)can not find a way to rectify this problem.Yes to a moratorium.
2. Jim said...
First you liberals want to close all coal mines,now no drilling. Offshore drilling can and has been done safely.This was an accident . We have to stop our dependence on foreign oil.R U proposing windmills as a solution to our energy crisis? Cmon
5/10/2010