US Vice-Pres. Al Gore has pledged that, if elected president, he will ban any new offshore drilling for oil and gas along the California and Florida coasts.
He made the announcement during a campaign stop at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH (see Editorial, p. 25).
Last year, the Clinton administration signed a 10-year moratorium on new leasing off California, Washington, Oregon, southwestern Florida, New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and southern Alaska; the ban did not prohibit drilling on existing leases (see story, p. 36).
Gore promises to go much further, however: "If elected president, I will take steps to prevent any oil drilling on the older leases that were granted during previous administrations...because I don't want to worry about oil washing up on the shores of Santa Barbara or Monterey or any of the places on the West Coast or on the East Coast or the coast of Florida," he said.
Using the issue as a political weapon against another presidential hopeful, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Gore said, "The Republican front-runner has led a state that has become number one in the country in toxic releases to the air; number one in the country in toxic releases to the water; number one in the country in toxic releases to the land."
Industry reaction
Two key industry groups responded to Gore's announcement, focusing on future US demand for natural gas as a replacement fuel for less environmentally friendly energy sources such as coal.
The American Petroleum Institute called Gore's promise "shortsighted." API said, "Government policy towards offshore exploration for oil and gas should be guided by a careful analysis of the country's needs and the best knowledge of what can be done with current technology, not politics.
"The Clinton Administration-and Vice-Pres. Gore, in particular-have consistently promoted natural gas as a cleaner-burning fuel. Natural gas is indeed clean and has a tremendous role in meeting the challenges of supplying the future energy needs of America's families and industry. But it does not rise, like magic, from beneath the ground and into our homes and factories.
"A fact that seems to get lost in the political arena is that natural gas is underground, and under the seabed, in many cases," said API. "The Gulf of Mexico alone supplies more than a quarter of this nation's gas consumption."
The Natural Gas Supply Association echoed API's comments. In a letter to Gore, NGSA Pres. R. Skip Horvath said, "As one who is known for his concern for the environment, you are certainly aware of the cleaner qualities of natural gas.
"Indeed, the (US) Environmental Protection Agency has encouraged use of this cleaner fuel through its standards. As a result, natural gas demand is expected to grow by one-third between now and 2010. Most of that growth is due to the power industry, where many utilities are in the process of switching from coal to cleaner-burning natural gas.
"Denying access to this environmental fuel, some of which resides offshore, appears inconsistent with the goal for a cleaner future.
"Moreover, the producers of natural gas are proud to say that, with new technologies and increased efficiencies, 'environmental footprints' left behind by our industry are dwindling. We, too, recognize the importance of the environment to our country and to future generations, and that is why access to natural gas is crucial in order to provide the people of this country with fuel for heating, cooking, and manufacturing."
API also touted improvements in the petroleum industry's environmental record.
"There is no rationale for continuing the moratoria after their expiration dates," it said. "The US Department of Energy, in a recent report, praised the oil and gas industry for integrating an 'environmental ethic' into its business culture and operations and for its commitment to protecting the environment.
"America needs oil and natural gas and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Our companies can provide these fuels, safely and cleanly, but only if companies are allowed access to areas where oil and gas exist. A failure to do so will only continue to drive investments overseas, and our dependence on foreign oil and gas will become even larger."
NGSA has asked Gore to reconsider his stance on the issue, offering the industry's assistance in reaching a compromise.
