Environment

Bush's offshore drilling plan is set aside by Obama

by Amy Judd | February 10, 2009 at 11:53 am

454 views | 22 Recommendations | 4 comments

Photos

boats collect the oil from the rigs offshore here

see larger image

uploaded by bluejayway76

Obama decided today to put aside Bush's offshore drilling plan off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Secretary Ken Salazar said that they need to set aside this plan and come up with their own timeline now.

He is going to extend the public comment on this matter by six months and he suggested that when Bush's administration made that decision they were looking for a option that was easier but more harmful to the environment, rather than looking at a bigger, more long-term solution.

"The additional time we are providing will give states, stakeholders, and affected communities the opportunity to provide input on the future of our offshore areas," he said.

Salazar also ordered Interior Department experts to compile a report on the Outer Continental Shelf's energy potential — not just oil and gas, but also renewables like wind and wave energy.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

shottwokill

at 20:43 on February 10th, 2009

Obama should be just as serious about reducing our dependance on Foreign oil as he is the economy. After all, Foriegn oil is the largest transfer of wealth from this country with the exception of his spending bill that he is pushing to get through.

René

at 12:55 on February 11th, 2009

Six Months! Can we afford to wait that long?

A. Tran

at 19:22 on February 12th, 2009

Has anyone read Thomas Friedman's book, Hot, Flat, and Crowded?

Friedman proposes that an ambitious national strategy—which he calls "Geo-Greenism"—is not only what we need to save the planet from overheating; it is what we need to make America healthier, richer, more innovative, more productive, and more secure.

Drilling is not the only solution because it takes years for these sites to be productive. The focus should be concentrated on developing a variety of hybrid cars.