Obama administration to proceed with offshore drilling

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A proposal issued in the final days of the Bush administration to expand offshore drilling in previously banned areas will move forward under the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, an Interior Department spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday.

...

Hugh Vickery, a department spokesman, said the department has been notified by the White House that it will be able to proceed with a proposed draft of a five-year plan to lease areas in the Atlantic and Pacific waters for oil and natural gas drilling.

...

The Interior Department estimates that the Outer Continental Shelf holds 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas that have yet to be discovered. It is possible U.S. offshore areas, which have not been explored in 25 years, could contain more oil and gas.

Separately, Vickery said the department's plan to develop oil shale fields in the western United States would also continue.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environment...E50K68520090121

[Ban Hammer 13,282]

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm pretty sure most of us on VJ own an oil (gas or diesel) powered car, so this is good news.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Obama, June 20 2008:

When I'm president, I intend to keep in place the moratorium here in Florida and around the country that prevents oil companies from drilling off Florida's coasts. That's how we can protect our coastline and still make the investments that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and bring down gas prices for good.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Can't expect him to keep every promise can you?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It will be up to President-elect Barack Obama whether to proceed with Interior's revised five-year leasing plan that would cover the years 2010 to 2015. He could scale it back or scrap it entirely. Interior officials said they wanted to give the next administration maximum flexibility to expand offshore drilling.

Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar, Obama's choice as interior secretary, has indicated he likely will want to scale back the Bush administration's offshore drilling agenda.

"There are places in the Outer Continental Shelf that are appropriate for drilling. There may be other places that are off limits," Salazar said Thursday during his Senate confirmation hearing. "We need to have a thoughtful process as we go forward."

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=n...&id=6609090

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm wondering why Obama chose Ken Salazar for Sec. of Interior?

In 2005, Salazar voted against increasing fuel-efficiency standards (CAFE) for cars and trucks, a vote that the League of Conservation Voters notes is anti-environment. In the same year, Salazar voted against an amendment to repeal tax breaks for ExxonMobil and other major petroleum companies.[9

In 2006, Salazar voted to end protections that limit off-shore drilling in Florida's Gulf Coast.^[10]

In 2007, Salazar was one of only a handful of Democrats to vote against a bill that would require the United States Army Corps of Engineers to consider global warming when planning water projects.^[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Salazar

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm wondering why Obama chose Ken Salazar for Sec. of Interior?

Because Obama hates the Earth.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Or Salazar had the best Coke.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm wondering why Obama chose Ken Salazar for Sec. of Interior?

Because Obama hates the Earth.

I've been reading more about Salazar. He's a curious appointee - considered a right of center Democrat, but supposedly, he won't try to push his own agenda (I hope not).

Several experts who have worked with Salazar over the years, including gas and mining officials, farm groups and national environmental leaders, said they expect him to support Obama's energy and environmental agenda rather than attempt to set his own policy course.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...ml?hpid=topnews

Edited January 25, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[dalegg 143]

I'm wondering why Obama chose Ken Salazar for Sec. of Interior?

In 2005, Salazar voted against increasing fuel-efficiency standards (CAFE) for cars and trucks, a vote that the League of Conservation Voters notes is anti-environment. In the same year, Salazar voted against an amendment to repeal tax breaks for ExxonMobil and other major petroleum companies.[9

In 2006, Salazar voted to end protections that limit off-shore drilling in Florida's Gulf Coast.^[10]

In 2007, Salazar was one of only a handful of Democrats to vote against a bill that would require the United States Army Corps of Engineers to consider global warming when planning water projects.^[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Salazar

Now where's SVRT to say he told you so?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm wondering why Obama chose Ken Salazar for Sec. of Interior?

In 2005, Salazar voted against increasing fuel-efficiency standards (CAFE) for cars and trucks, a vote that the League of Conservation Voters notes is anti-environment. In the same year, Salazar voted against an amendment to repeal tax breaks for ExxonMobil and other major petroleum companies.[9

In 2006, Salazar voted to end protections that limit off-shore drilling in Florida's Gulf Coast.^[10]

In 2007, Salazar was one of only a handful of Democrats to vote against a bill that would require the United States Army Corps of Engineers to consider global warming when planning water projects.^[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Salazar

Now where's SVRT to say he told you so?

LOL...it took me awhile to realize who SVRT was (Steve)...the self proclaimed Socialist.

I'm waiting to read or hear more about Obama's choice for Secretary of the Interior. So far, I'm not pleased with what I know.

[Scott & Lai 12]

It will be up to President-elect Barack Obama

His title is now simply "President"... were you sleeping Tuesday?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It will be up to President-elect Barack Obama

His title is now simply "President"... were you sleeping Tuesday?

When did that happen?

I should have posted the article's date: Friday, January 16, 2009

[luckytxn 2,264]

It will be up to President-elect Barack Obama

His title is now simply "President"... were you sleeping Tuesday?

I prefer to think of him as the new victim to focus our political attacks.