Statement of Environment America Oceans Advocate Michael Gravitz:
“In moving to open the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to oil drilling today, the Bush administration is clinging to energy policies of the past that were soundly rejected by voters less than two weeks ago. From President-elect Barack Obama on down the ballot, the candidates who won were talking about a clean energy future—including wind, solar, tidal and wave energy, and energy efficiency. Voters understood that a clean energy economy is a stronger economy, and with it America can find a more secure world and the solution to global warming.
“The same administration that is shortchanging the country by doing the absolute minimum to improve auto fuel efficiency standards wants to endanger our treasured coasts and shorelines and keep us more dependent on oil. The administration wants to pursue drilling even though its own analysts have said that no amount of domestic off-shore drilling will have a significant effect on gas prices.
“A spill in the area proposed for leasing could affect Assateague Island, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and other national parks, refuges, state parks, and resort communities like Ocean City, Md., Cape May, N.J., and Virginia Beach, Va. Despite the fact that the endangered Chesapeake Bay is classified under their own system as one of the most productive ecosystems on our coasts, the Minerals Management Service wants to push ahead and start pre-leasing investigations.
“In the waning days of his administration, President Bush is handing out access to our national treasures like party favors to Big Oil and shoring up his legacy as the most anti-environmental president the country has ever seen.
“Instead of keeping America hooked on oil, our president should be helping the country cut our oil consumption in half—and create millions of new jobs doing it. Environment America is calling on President-elect Obama and the new Congress to do just that, starting with making investing in energy efficiency, wind and solar power, and public transit a cornerstone of any economic recovery plan.”
