The U.S. House of Representatives declared this week "Energy Week." Now that it is nearly over, it would have been more appropriate to call it a "Waste of Energy Week." It appears that their major accomplishment during this week has been another huge gift to Big Oil, while once again putting off any advancement of renewable and more efficient energies.
In a press release put out yesterday, Congressman Mark Green touts his vote for the centerpiece of "Energy Week," the passage of an offshore drilling bill. Congratulations! You've passed a bill that relies on the slowest, dirtiest, and most expensive way to meet our energy needs!
The U.S. House of Representatives declared this week "Energy Week." Now that it is nearly over, it would have been more appropriate to call it a "Waste of Energy Week." It appears that their major accomplishment during this week has been another huge gift to Big Oil, while once again putting off any advancement of renewable and more efficient energies.
In a press release put out yesterday, Congressman Mark Green touts his vote for the centerpiece of "Energy Week," the passage of an offshore drilling bill. Congratulations! You've passed a bill that relies on the slowest, dirtiest, and most expensive way to meet our energy needs!
Here are only six reasons that this bill should have not been passed:
It allows states to petition for drilling within 50 miles of the shore.
It forces the states to actively oppose drilling 50-100 miles from shore every five years.
States have only one year to block natural gas drilling and only five years to block oil drilling.
It preempts State jurisdiction over ocean pipelines in state waters.
Over 80% of our offshore natural gas resources are already open to drilling.
1.8 million gallons of oil were spilled from platforms and pipelines in U.S. Outer continental Shelf from 1990-1999 in 224 reported accidents--an average of 500 gallons a day.
Perhaps the worst thing about the passage of this bill is the fact that it continues to rely on the same outdated methods for developing energy. Mark Green and Congressional leaders have shown zero ability to think to the future. They have done nothing during "Energy Week" to actually help cure our addiction to oil. Their solution, with the passage of this bill, brings to mind the image of a junkie trying to cure themselves by simply finding a new dealer.
*Originally posted at One Wisconsin Now's One Blog.
http://onewisconsinnow.org/...