Florida’s U.S. senators may have thought they beat back drilling off the state’s Gulf Coast, but a new battle may be brewing.
Senate appropriators have given initial approval to $10 million for seismic exploration to determine how much oil and gas reserves are in the eastern Gulf Coast.
The move led Florida Sen. Bill Nelson on Friday to take the Senate floor to complain that an agreement he and fellow Florida Sen. Mel Martinez made last year was being broken. The two agreed to back expansion of offshore drilling in the Gulf in exchange for language protecting their state from further exploration.
Do you think drilling for oil off the Gulf Coast of Florida is a good idea? Does it make sense to “explore” the area if the U.S. isn’t going to legalize drilling? Share your thoughts here.
I think it makes sense because once we know as accurately as possible exactly how much oil is there then we can better decide if it’s worth trying to extract it. Why try to get the ok to drill if it isn’t going to benefit us. Kinda like putting the cart before the horse if you ask me. Now it was my understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, that the greater issue is the lack of U.S. refineries to process the oil that is what has put us in the situation we are in. I’ll be honest this is an issue that has so many different angles that I feel almost ignorant about it. What effect could this have on our relations with the countries we currently get our oil from? Are we going to keep it all for ourselves or enter the world market causing who knows what turmoil with either decision? What effect might it have on the environment and sea-life around Florida? I could go on and on but do we really know all the questions and problems we might face let alone any of the answers. I’m sure this will be an interesting thread to read and contribute to and I look forward to everyones comments.
I may be wrong on this but has the two senators in this article looked around all of Florida’s waterways lately. You need to leave the Capital every once in a while to see what is happening down here. Between the cruise ships, boats, jet skies, and the different ports that there isn’t any pollution going on. The enviornmental damage alone from all of that. Oiling drilling may curb some of it because they may have to go out further to get around it, destroying another’s country’s enviornment. I am assuming those two senators only use bikes to get around the world considering they are so worried about the enviorment. Look at the great mass transit system and rail systems we have in place in Florida. These are things that would lessen our need of oil and may actually save our enviorment. Right now the only thing Florida is rich in are car rental agency and gas stations to fill them. When is Florida going to go GREEN.
I applaud the senators for stepping in to stop yet another attempt to degradate our shorelines.
But how many times must this battle be fought? It seems there is an attempt to molest our
coastline about every year now..I guess the oil companies will not quit until they’ve peppered
the gulf with oil platforms. Damage from spills have been shown to effect the environment for
well over 20 years. Mercury levels of fish and other sealife caught in the vicinity of these rigs
are generally 6 to 8 times above safe levels. Yes there are other sources of contaniments
abusing our waterways..but it doesn’t mean we look the other way when encountered with an
issue such as this.
Wake up and smell the roses people. The Chinese are already set to drill 45 miles off the Florida (N of Cuba) coast by the Keys. Seeing what China has done to the enviroment in their own country, I would much rather have an American company drill with all the protections they have to follow. Also Mexico is set to drill off the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico and they are exempt from all the rules also. So make a choice. China and Mexico or U.S. Drillers. It is already happening with no controls for some.
Drill, I say, drill for oil up to 10 miles offshore, but make them build a gasoline refinery right here in Hillsborough County. Good for the economy, good for the consumers, and good for future energy availability. Keep blocking reasonable energy exploration and exploitation, and we’ll be hitching up donkeys to the SUVs to get around.
Drill, I say, drill for oil up to 10 miles offshore, but make them build a gasoline refinery right here in Hillsborough County. Good for the economy, good for the consumers, and good for future energy availability. Keep blocking reasonable energy exploration and exploitation, and we’ll be hitching up donkeys to the SUVs to get around.
I agree! We hear constantly, “we have to stop our dependence on foreign oil.” “Gas prices are going thorough the roof. We need to do something about it.” Yadda yadda. However, the slightest mention of horrors, drilling for our OWN oil gets the environmentalists t-backs in a wad. They drool at the thought of turning the entire food chain topsy turvy by using all the corn produced to make ethanol which is far less efficient than gasoline, thinking which must emanate from the same camp that brings us global warming.
When the Exxon Valdez cracked open and spilled millions of gallons of crude all over the Alaska coast, the cry was that the environment was ruined forever. A few years later it wasn’t noticeable. But the accident did bring about improved methods of handling oil to avoid a repeat.
Drill for oil here before someone else does, and let the people who hate us feed their oil to ther camels and llamas.
I am VERY much torn between the two sides on this topic.
I firmly believe in protecting the environment. And I do think that drilling just off our shores would open the door to disaster. As we’ve heard many times through the years with other oil rigs and their mishaps resulting in oil covered beaches, dead fish and wildlife etc.
But, I also agree with the fact that we NEED to do something to become less dependent on other countries for our fuel.
To me it’s a no win situation. If you do one of the above solutions, then you seriously compromise the other.
I am VERY much torn between the two sides on this topic.
I firmly believe in protecting the environment. And I do think that drilling just off our shores would open the door to disaster. As we’ve heard many times through the years with other oil rigs and their mishaps resulting in oil covered beaches, dead fish and wildlife etc.
But, I also agree with the fact that we NEED to do something to become less dependent on other countries for our fuel.
To me it’s a no win situation. If you do one of the above solutions, then you seriously compromise the other.
Wish I had the answers!
See I knew we could agree on something. But as far as the actual topic goes they should definitely do the seismic tests or whatever they are going to do to see if the benefits outweigh the risks it could be a moot point for all we know there may not even be enough oil there for it to matter. Personally I think there is an untapped goldmine there, if not why would other countries be so interested in drilling off our coast? With todays technology we SHOULD be able to extract that oil without harming the environment my concern is the long term effects on the planet removing it may cause. The earth must produce it for a reason and will removing it cause later damage. I kinda look at it like is oil to the earth like blood is to us? Remove too much and it dies? Or could it be more akin to our hair and nails and have no effect at all with it’s removal. I don’t think we wil ever know but I’m concerned for future generations.
When the Exxon Valdez cracked open and spilled millions of gallons of crude all over the Alaska coast, the cry was that the environment was ruined forever. A few years later it wasn’t noticeable.
10 years after the Valdez spill the water in the surrounding area still remained at toxic
levels. You can’t dump 11 million gallons of oil and think it will dissapear in a few years.
Almost 4 million gallons was released by oil rigs outside of New Orleans when Katrina
hit. This will probably help eliminate the massive wetlands that helped protect them from
hurricanes even more. I’m not a tree hugger but this is the way it works. I have no problem
with drilling in the Gulf but it’s a big place..they don’t need to be right off the shoreline.
I also agree we need to diminish the reliance of foriegn oil..actually even diminish the
reliance on oil period would be cool.
I am VERY much torn between the two sides on this topic.
I firmly believe in protecting the environment. And I do think that drilling just off our shores would open the door to disaster. As we’ve heard many times through the years with other oil rigs and their mishaps resulting in oil covered beaches, dead fish and wildlife etc.
But, I also agree with the fact that we NEED to do something to become less dependent on other countries for our fuel.
To me it’s a no win situation. If you do one of the above solutions, then you seriously compromise the other.
Wish I had the answers!
See I knew we could agree on something. But as far as the actual topic goes they should definitely do the seismic tests or whatever they are going to do to see if the benefits outweigh the risks it could be a moot point for all we know there may not even be enough oil there for it to matter. Personally I think there is an untapped goldmine there, if not why would other countries be so interested in drilling off our coast? With todays technology we SHOULD be able to extract that oil without harming the environment my concern is the long term effects on the planet removing it may cause. The earth must produce it for a reason and will removing it cause later damage. I kinda look at it like is oil to the earth like blood is to us? Remove too much and it dies? Or could it be more akin to our hair and nails and have no effect at all with it’s removal. I don’t think we wil ever know but I’m concerned for future generations.
I’d love to see an alternative fuel be a truly viable option. To take the place of crude oil.
But think of the billions it would cost the car makers, and consumers as well. Because ultimately we would either have to convert the automobiles we have now to the new fuel, or buy ones that use it.
It won’t be happening anytime, I believe anyway, in our lifetime. As they say, money talks. And that statement was never more true than it is today. In EVERY aspect of our lives.
I am VERY much torn between the two sides on this topic.
I firmly believe in protecting the environment. And I do think that drilling just off our shores would open the door to disaster. As we’ve heard many times through the years with other oil rigs and their mishaps resulting in oil covered beaches, dead fish and wildlife etc.
But, I also agree with the fact that we NEED to do something to become less dependent on other countries for our fuel.
To me it’s a no win situation. If you do one of the above solutions, then you seriously compromise the other.
Wish I had the answers!
See I knew we could agree on something. But as far as the actual topic goes they should definitely do the seismic tests or whatever they are going to do to see if the benefits outweigh the risks it could be a moot point for all we know there may not even be enough oil there for it to matter. Personally I think there is an untapped goldmine there, if not why would other countries be so interested in drilling off our coast? With todays technology we SHOULD be able to extract that oil without harming the environment my concern is the long term effects on the planet removing it may cause. The earth must produce it for a reason and will removing it cause later damage. I kinda look at it like is oil to the earth like blood is to us? Remove too much and it dies? Or could it be more akin to our hair and nails and have no effect at all with it’s removal. I don’t think we wil ever know but I’m concerned for future generations.
I’d love to see an alternative fuel be a truly viable option. To take the place of crude oil.
But think of the billions it would cost the car makers, and consumers as well. Because ultimately we would either have to convert the automobiles we have now to the new fuel, or buy ones that use it.
It won’t be happening anytime, I believe anyway, in our lifetime. As they say, money talks. And that statement was never more true than it is today. In EVERY aspect of our lives.
Money is the root of all wealth!!
Ant the more gasoline we use, the more of our wealth goes to the Middle East. That’s a good place for it isn’t it?
Money to Japan for cars.
Money to the ME for oil
Money to Mexico for labor.
Money to China for most everything else.
How long will we have this wealth?
I’ve been moving my money into non-US investments for a few years.
I am VERY much torn between the two sides on this topic.
I firmly believe in protecting the environment. And I do think that drilling just off our shores would open the door to disaster. As we’ve heard many times through the years with other oil rigs and their mishaps resulting in oil covered beaches, dead fish and wildlife etc.
But, I also agree with the fact that we NEED to do something to become less dependent on other countries for our fuel.
To me it’s a no win situation. If you do one of the above solutions, then you seriously compromise the other.
Wish I had the answers!
See I knew we could agree on something. But as far as the actual topic goes they should definitely do the seismic tests or whatever they are going to do to see if the benefits outweigh the risks it could be a moot point for all we know there may not even be enough oil there for it to matter. Personally I think there is an untapped goldmine there, if not why would other countries be so interested in drilling off our coast? With todays technology we SHOULD be able to extract that oil without harming the environment my concern is the long term effects on the planet removing it may cause. The earth must produce it for a reason and will removing it cause later damage. I kinda look at it like is oil to the earth like blood is to us? Remove too much and it dies? Or could it be more akin to our hair and nails and have no effect at all with it’s removal. I don’t think we wil ever know but I’m concerned for future generations.
I’d love to see an alternative fuel be a truly viable option. To take the place of crude oil.
But think of the billions it would cost the car makers, and consumers as well. Because ultimately we would either have to convert the automobiles we have now to the new fuel, or buy ones that use it.
It won’t be happening anytime, I believe anyway, in our lifetime. As they say, money talks. And that statement was never more true than it is today. In EVERY aspect of our lives.
Money is the root of all wealth!!
Ant the more gasoline we use, the more of our wealth goes to the Middle East. That’s a good place for it isn’t it?
Money to Japan for cars.
Money to the ME for oil
Money to Mexico for labor.
Money to China for most everything else.
How long will we have this wealth?
I’ve been moving my money into non-US investments for a few years.
I know, we outsource just about everything anymore. Hardly anything has the Made In America label. Sad isn’t it?
Corporations outsource, because labor is SO much cheaper elsewhere in the world. People from other countries will work for pennies in comparison to what an American worker will work for. And to be fair to the American worker, what is due them. Yes, we want healthcare, 401k, retirement plan, etc. What American doesn’t!
However, the big corporations would MUCH rather pay a foreign person two dollars an hour with NO benefits! And pocket the savings without passing it along to it’s customers. Even small mom and pop places use Mexican workers, legal or otherwise, for this very same reason. So that THEY can have more money in their pockets.
This is why we won’t see a solution, as far as alternative fuel, anytime soon. It would cost carmakers everywhere, not just in the U.S., WAY too much money. So the world will continue to battle over fuel for many years yet.
Any alternative created would be great for our economy. New businesses and jobs would be created . But new and change scare many people. Everyone always sounds so negative. The enviorment is a great and forgiving resource as long as we protect it in the right ways. Stop whinning and start a new business. Change is a good thing..... That’s why this forum started. We couldn’t do this years ago. Looks like you all embraced it. The” American Dream.”.
