No New Drilling Act and Positive Personal Acts

Navy diver off the coast of Panama City, Florida

Navy diver off the coast of Panama City, Florida - photographed February 16, 2005 by Andy McKaskle.

The No New Drilling Act of 2011, H.R. 261, was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Frank Palone of New Jersey. Current co-sponsors are Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida and John Garamendi of California.

The bill provides valuable protection of the precious outer continental shelf by prohibiting all new off-shore mining leases on the outer continental shelf including new oil-drilling leases. Such new mining efforts would increase the ongoing dangers to our coasts due to future oil catastrophes and other potential catastrophes. The bill would also help safeguard clean coastal industries, recreation, and coastal communities and their ways of life (see full text).

Of course, not all Americans will agree with or support this legislation. But I and just about all of us have much to consider and reconsider. Our energy use as Americans is far more than we need and it puts our whole planet at risk in terms of ecological disasters created in the pursuit of energy and ongoing environmental damage caused by energy use. By way of comparison, we, Americans, use much more energy per capita than comparably “developed” countries: Germany (we use 85% more), Japan (we use 92% more), and the United Kingdom (we use 98% more) (see list of countries’ usage). Compared to most other countries we use much more energy. For example, compared to Costa Rica, a Central American country with a higher life expectancy than the United States, we use 786% more energy per capita. Maybe we all have much to learn from one another.

I’m not holding my breath on the passage of the No New Drilling Act of 2011. But conserving energy is something each person can decide to do, and it reduces pollution and other catastrophic risks, one person at a time. So as long as my family and I are healthy, I can lower our thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer. I can also adjust the thermostat depending upon whether we’re home or not. I can make sure I keep the heating/cooling system running efficiently with clean filters. I can turn energy saving lights off whenever I leave a room. I can adjust the hot water heater and put an insulator around it (lots of energy saving info here).

But I’m not giving up on promising legislation either. Because I want to protect the ecological wonder of the continental shelf, and because I believe we can reduce our energy use and find ways to produce cleaner and safer energy, I’m calling the Capital Switchboard toll-free at 866-306-3552 and asking my Congressperson support to the No New Drilling Act of 2011, H. R. 261.

Public ‘Forum’ Lacks ‘Open Discussion’

Today the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a public “forum” in Mobile on whether the six-month moratorium prohibiting new drilling should be suspended early. The purpose of the moratorium is to allow for renewed consideration of oil well safety reforms, oil spill containment issues, and oil spill recovery and response strategies. While Steve Russell, a representative from the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, was given a prominent speaking role, no Mobile area environmental leader was allowed to speak at the “forum.” Steve Russell provided the audience a simplistic the-wells-are-safe and we-need-jobs message asking for a halt to the moratorium and asking for increased drilling. His lack of appreciation for the magnitude of the current problem and his lack of appreciation for the ongoing safety and environmental issues were appalling.

The one speaker from an environmental organization, Manley Fuller of the Florida Wildlife Federation, insisted that the current general plans for oil spill catastrophes be beefed up to include worst case scenarios such as oil spill recovery efforts complicated by major hurricanes and simultaneous oil catastrophes. Representing the State of Florida well, he restated Florida’s stance against any new drilling near Florida.

In other highlights, Dr. Edward Overton, an LSU professor, stated that “the booms were not particularly effective” and the coordination of clean-up efforts were characterized by a “lack of nimbleness.” Dr. George Crozier of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab questioned the use of dispersants in deep water and spoke of “profound uncertainties” connected with that use. To further our knowledge of the gulf, Dr. Crozier asked for deep water research tools that would enable research in the gulf waters at depths of 3000 feet and more where we have insufficient scientific knowledge.

David Underhill appeared outside the room wearing duct tape over his mouth succinctly symbolizing the lack of public participation allowed at the forum. The audience was not allowed to even ask questions and was told to remain silent at all times.

If you would like to express your opinion to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, you may submit your opinion at http://boemre.gov/forums . In my own comments, I underscored the importance of clean environmentally friendly energy sources that could also provide area jobs and not further jeopardize numerous community jobs such as the jobs currently lost in fishing and tourism.

Jerry Pogue of Mobile discusses his concerns with passersby

Jerry Pogue of Mobile discusses his concerns with passersby, photographed August 10, 2010.

Heather Emmert speaks with the press after the forum

Though not allowed to speak at the forum Heather Emmert of Environment America speaks with the press after the forum, photographed August 10, 2010.

David Underhill silently holds his sign

David Underhill silently holds his sign outside the forum, photographed August 10, 2010.

Most Everyone Wants Clean Energy but is it Practical?

Oil polluting Dauphin Island tidal pool

Oil polluting Dauphin Island tidal pool, photographed July 11, 2010

Without a practical plan, the desire for clean energy is nothing more than a busted pipe dream. So, while most people realize the importance of clean energy for preserving our way of life, without a plan we will remain stuck in the tar pit of dirty energy and environmental pollutants.

Earlier this year before the oil spill, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy issued a challenge with a $10,000 prize for the development of a practical plan. Oceana’s Vision 2020 was the winner of the alliance’s challenge (see winner announcement). A presentation and podcast of Oceana’s incremental plan can be found at the alliance’s webinar archive. Oceana has also published a six-page report on the plan. The plan addresses (a) environmental sustainability with the use of clean reusable energies such as offshore wind power and bio-fuels; (b) energy conservation primarily through energy efficiency; (c) reductions in residential and commercial heating consumption and in the overall production of electricity through improved technologies; and (d) energy reductions in transportation through the use of “diesel (45 MPG), hybrid-electric (45 MPG), plug-in hybrid electric (70 MPG), and electric vehicles (2.9 MPkWh)” and slower speeds in worldwide shipping. All the technologies in Oceana’s plan have proven track-records, and rather than cost money, over time the plan would save money and create jobs. The plan if fully implemented in the U.S. would reduce U.S. oil consumption by 26% by 2020 and by 74% by 2035 – thus eliminating the U.S. dependence on domestic off-shore oil and greatly reducing the U.S. dependency on imported oil.