N.C. Dems want to stay away from offshore drilling

RALEIGH, N.C. — While gas prices around the Triangle are falling, politicians are trying to figure out a way to keep fears of $5 a gallon from becoming reality.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and Richard Burr, R-N.C. are calling for offshore drilling, including the possibility of tapping into oil reserves 60 miles off North Carolina's coastline. Doing so, they say would help maintain the price of gasoline and limit foreign dependency on the natural resource.

And although Rep. Bob Etheridge, D- N.C., isn't opposed to the idea, he does not think drilling off North Carolina's shores should be the first option.

"There are 68 million acres available on- and offshore and in places where they actually have infrastructure to move it in the Gulf."

Rep Brad Miller, D-N.C., agrees, saying the U.S. should drill in places like the Gulf of Mexico, where oil companies already have leases to drill offshore.

But as far as drilling anywhere off North Carolina, Miller says doing so would be a bad idea because of the environmental costs of offshore drilling aren't worth the savings at the pump.

"A serious spill would be disastrous for North Carolina's tourism and four our fishing industry," he said.

Proponents of offshore drilling say environmental worries are overblown. Dan Mansell, who is running against Etheridge in the U.S. Second District says he is in favor of offshore drilling and supports Dole's position on lifting a 27-year federal moratorium on Atlantic Drilling.

Proponents also point to the fact that states like North Carolina would get part of the lease revenue from offshore drilling, which could be used to improve beaches and the coastline.

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Latest Comments

sickofstupidcomments: Katrina raged in the Gulf, remember. There are HUNDREDS of platforms out there that were in her path. I don't recall seeing a billion gallons of oil washing up everywhere. You give absolutely no credit to the technology and personnel available to make this equipment as safe as possible. And do you even visit NC beaches? Ever? Ever see what washes up on shore just from overturned container ships? Their cargo is less secure than an oil rig but you don't see ships being banned from our ports. Perhaps some more research than a couple vague links might bolster your arguement.

loudnoises
August 12, 2008 9:49 p.m.

KEEP IT UP DEMS, YOU WILL BE RED IN THE FACE COME NOVEMBER WHEN N.C VOTES THE SAME COLOR. YOU ARE THERE TO LISTEN TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE 73% of the nation want action out of this Democratic Congress. The witch says NO VOTE, talk about an abuse of Power.

Eduardo1
August 12, 2008 9:19 p.m.

You cannot see an oil derrick that is ten miles or more offshore. Oil spills are extremely rare and clean ups are much more efficient and quick than ever before. To take offshore drilling off the table is economic illiteracy. Fishing around oil rigs is great because it provides structure for fish. To condemn offshore drilling because of the remote possibility of a spill is irresponsible. Oil companies do not want spills because they are expensive and they will use all of the latest technology to prevent them. Our national security and standard of living is at stake. Some people are just too dumb to understand but they have been fed the ecobabble snake oil all of their lives and have soaked up every drop. They are showing Al Gore, that world renowned meterologist and internet inventor, to grade school kids now via "Inconvenient Truth". The liberal establishment is trying to brainwash a whole new generation to carry on their radical environmental agenda.

sweetsea
August 12, 2008 8:00 p.m.

hey sickofstupidcomments - i am so impressed with your choices of neutral sites for your research. Why didn't you just pick the Chinese Red Army daily newspaper or other disinterested party that does not want to upset our economy?

lizard
August 12, 2008 5:44 p.m.

Hey DEMS, we will not forget you in November! At the rate of prices going up, who will be able to afford the fish that you will have us believe will be affected. And who will be able to afford to drive to the pristine beaches. And do you think we can all just dump our so-called gas burners and get new vehicles. How many miles a year do I have to drive before the economics of buying a more fuel efficient vehicle starts to mean anything. Yes, you are correct, if I save $20 per week, it will only take me only 24 years before I start leveling off against what I currently drive WOW, by then, I will have gone through 4-5 new vehicles. Gimmie a break!

Eduardo1
August 12, 2008 3:35 p.m.