President Barack Obama angered critics with a call for offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the central Atlantic
BY LESLEY CLARK
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's call Wednesday to expand offshore oil and gas drilling -- as close as 125 miles off Florida's coast -- angered environmentalists in the state and left some Florida Democrats looking to distance themselves from the plans.
Under the proposal unveiled by Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, oil and gas exploration would be allowed in the eastern Gulf of Mexico 125 miles from Florida's west coast. On the Atlantic side, the Outer Continental Shelf from Delaware down to central Florida would be open to drilling, but only after studies that could take years.
Obama called the decision to embrace more drilling not one he took ``lightly,'' but cast it as necessary to sustain economic growth in the U.S., ``even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy''.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, a longtime drilling foe, gave the plan a tentative nod, saying administration officials apparently listened to his warning that if they ``drilled too close to Florida's beaches, they'd be risking the state's economy and the environment''.
And he said he hopes the plan would ``derail'' a bid in the state House to drill three miles off Florida's coast.
The administration's plan calls for drilling in areas now off-limits because of military training and Nelson said he wants Defense Secretary Robert Gates ``to look me in the eye'' and assure him that the plan won't interfere with training missions. Congress would have to sign off on any drilling in the eastern Gulf, Salazar said.
Underscoring the political sensitivity of offshore oil drilling in a state that was once firmly opposed to oil drilling, Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat running for U.S. Senate, said that ``caution must trump expediency.
``Ending our reliance on foreign oil, researching alternative green energy sources, and exploring domestic supplies of oil and natural gas is critical. But the cost for error in Florida is greater than it is for our neighbors,'' Meek said.
And Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, said she expressed her concerns to the administration, adding, ``drilling for oil off of Florida's west coast beaches would be a serious threat to Florida's economy and jobs''.
South Florida's coastline would not be affected under the plan. Previous federal studies have found little oil and gas there.
Obama, who wants Congress to act on climate change legislation, has sought to reach out to Republicans by signaling he is open to domestic energy exploration and steps to curb global warming. But a number of Republicans panned the proposal, saying it keeps more promising areas of oil and gas exploration, including California and Alaska, off limits.
``The President's plan is flawed because it fails to open the Alaskan and Pacific coasts to drilling but allows oil rigs off the eastern Gulf of Mexico, threatening our natural resources and tourism-based economy,'' said Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota.
Recent polls have suggested that Floridians may be wavering in their opposition to drilling. Florida Sen. George LeMieux, unlike his predecessor, Mel Martinez, has said he's not opposed to drilling for oil and gas off Florida's coast. On Wednesday, he said ``safe and clean technologies used far enough from our shores is a proposal worth considering, but only if Florida's interests are protected and we benefit from the proceeds just like other states''.
The Florida Republican was among a group of senators invited to the White House earlier this month to talk energy with Obama and Salazar. Backers of the climate change bill have noted that LeMieux worked with his former boss, Gov. Charlie Crist, on a plan to cap emissions and require electric companies to use renewable sources of fuel. But Crist lately has been silent on the plan.
Even proponents of expanded oil and gas acknowledged any exploration could be years away because of a complex offshore leasing process. Barry Russell, president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, which represents oil and gas producers, welcomed the proposal but urged Congress and Obama to move quickly.
``Otherwise, the U.S. will continue to further its dependence on foreign resources and send more American dollars overseas,'' he said.
It's not the first time Obama has endorsed increased drilling. In 2008, with polls and rising gas costs showing that voters in Florida were increasingly comfortable with offshore drilling, then-Republican presidential nominee John McCain dropped his opposition to lifting a ban on offshore drilling. Obama changed tack two months later, suggesting on the campaign trail in Florida that he'd be open to drilling as part of a more sweeping energy package.
Environmentalists who have opposed past efforts to lift bans on offshore oil drilling, quickly hammered the proposal -- and Nelson for not being more forceful.
``Senator Nelson, of all elected leaders, should know that chronic pollution and oil spills obey no boundaries,'' said Adam Rivera of Environment Florida. ``There can be no politically determined border that safeguards Florida's $65 billion-a-year coastal economy -- or the sensitive military operations that rightfully concern Senator Nelson -- from the dirty and dangerous impacts of drilling''.
Nelson, who along with Martinez in 2006 hammered out a compromise with pro-drilling advocates to keep drilling at least 100 miles off Florida shores, is hoping the federal effort would block a state effort to put drilling as close as three miles offshore. The House hopes to pass such a measure this year, but it faces opposition in the Senate from President Jeff Atwater. Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, who has championed that measure, said he was encouraged by Obama's proposal, but said it's up to the state to put pressure on the federal government ``to do right''.
Cannon wants to pass a resolution urging Congress to lift the ban and emphasizing that Florida ``wants to be at the table so we make sure Florida's interests are protected''.
Carol Browner, a Florida native who now serves as Obama's energy and climate change advisor, said she's comfortable that the state will be protected under Obama's proposal.
``I think the 125-mile area of protection is significant and will ensure Florida's beaches remain clean,'' she said.
Herald staff writer Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this report from Tallahassee
Miami Herald
