RICHMOND—The Obama administration today announced a plan to open up vast areas of the Atlantic Coast, from Virginia to Georgia, to oil and gas drilling. Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, had the following statement in response:
“The Obama administration is turning its back on the lessons of the BP disaster and opening Virginia’s coast to unacceptable and unnecessary risks. A major oil spill would cut the legs out from under coastal Virginia’s economy, imperiling critical tourism, port and naval infrastructure.
“This drilling plan also betrays President Obama’s own State of the Union warning last week that ‘climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.’” Rising sea levels along Virginia’s coast are not only flooding homes and businesses, but also threaten Naval Station Norfolk, which is spending millions to raise piers. Why are we talking about drilling for more of the fossil fuels causing our seas to rise, when we have vast renewable energy resources waiting to be developed?
“Offshore wind power has far more upside, and none of the same downsides as drilling. Developing the Atlantic’s vast offshore wind power resources could create more than twice as many jobs, and, within two decades, produce more than twice the energy. This is the solution to grow our economy while protecting our children.”
Contact:
Kelly Trout, 240-396-2022, kelly@chesapeakeclimate.org
Dawone Robinson, 804-767-8983, dawone@chesapeakeclimate.org
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