Gulf oil spill is a political challenge for Obama’s energy policy
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The oil spill working its way to the Mississippi wetlands has the potential to endanger more than wildlife. It could also have an effect on the Obama administration’s energy policy.
Energy is a key part of President Obama’s domestic program. At campaign-style stops, he often praises alternative energy such as solar and wind power as necessary for economic development.
But he always notes that current energy sources will be with the country for a while so he has proposed dealing with that reality in a variety of ways, including expanding offshore oil drilling.
It was Republicans in the last presidential election who made ‘Drill, baby, drill” a mantra. But Obama was always careful not to close the door on new drilling. His proposed policy walks a fine line between industry and environmentalist concerns.“The bottom line is this: Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth and produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we are going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy,” Obama said when he announced his desire to increase drilling.
He has proposed drilling along the Atlantic Coast from Delaware to Florida, plus in some areas off Alaska. He would also lift a ban on drilling in parts of the Gulf of Mexico, about 125 miles from Florida’s beaches.
Of course, all of that was before the explosion on an oil rig and the spill that is expected to hit land Friday or Saturday, where it could imperil the delicate ecology of the marsh wetlands and wildlife.
“I have been receiving frequent briefings from my Cabinet and White House staff,” Obama said Thursday. “While BP is ultimately responsible for funding the cost of response and cleanup operations, my administration will continue to use every single available resource at our disposal, including potentially the Department of Defense, to address the incident.”
Earlier, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Obama remained committed to offshore drilling, but that the cause of the oil rig explosion – now under investigation -- could affect what areas the government would open for drilling.
Some senators see the incident as a problem.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said there was a risk of a potential “environmental and economic disaster” from the spill, and added that he was filing legislation to temporarily prohibit the Obama administration from expanding offshore drilling.
“Until we learn what happened, I’m asking that you also call for an immediate halt to test wells and all other exploratory operations in coastal waters,” Nelson said in a letter to Obama.
-- Michael Muskal
