1/12/2018
Nearly every coastal Governor affected by the Trump Administration’s recent announcement to expand offshore drilling has opposed the plan. Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott was so upset by the proposal, he demanded an immediate meeting with Interior Secretary Zinke. Soon after the meeting Zinke announced that drilling off the Florida coast is “off the table”.
Zinke released the following statement regarding Florida. “I have witnessed Governor Scott’s leadership through hurricane season and am working closely with him on Everglades restoration. He is a straightforward leader that can be trusted. President Trump has directed me to rebuild our offshore oil and gas program in a manner that supports our national energy policy and also takes into consideration the local and state voice. I support the governor’s position that Florida is unique and its coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver. As a result of discussion with Governor Scott and his leadership, I am removing Florida from consideration for any new oil and gas platforms.”
Other Governors did not have an opportunity to meet with Zinke, but had a lot to say about the proposed new drilling:
California, Oregon and Washington Governors in a joint statement – “For more than 30 years, our shared coastline has been protected from further federal drilling and we’ll do whatever it takes to stop this reckless, short-sighted action,”
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra added – “California is also ‘unique’ & our ‘coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver.’ Our ‘local and state voice’ is firmly opposed to any and all offshore drilling. If that’s your standard, we, too, should be removed from your list. Immediately.”
North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper – “Well, it’s interesting that six months ago I said that we don’t want offshore drilling off the North Carolina coast because of coastal tourism and the economy. 30, over 30 North Carolina cities and towns passed resolutions saying they didn’t want offshore drilling because of coastal tourism and their economy. And now the secretary of the interior has said that Florida is not going to have offshore drilling because of coastal tourism and the economy”. “As soon as I heard about the Florida decision, I asked for a meeting, or at least a telephone call, with Secretary Zinke.”
South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster – “We cannot afford to take a chance with our beauty, our majesty and the economic value and vitality of our wonderful coastline in South Carolina.”
New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christy – Sent a letter to Trump in August stating the Governor “strongly opposes any waters off our coastline being considered for inclusion in this leasing program.”
New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy – “We must stand firm against any plan for fossil fuel exploration, drilling, or development off the Atlantic Coast — whether it be three miles, 30 miles, or 300 miles from New Jersey”.
Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan – Stated his administration would use “any viable legal claims, actions or suits against the US government to prevent” it.
Deleware Democratic Governor John Carney – “Drilling for oil and gas in the Atlantic off Delaware’s coast would create the risk of a catastrophic spill or other related disasters that would not only threaten our natural resources, but pose serious threats to Delaware’s economy. More than 60,000 jobs are tied, directly and indirectly, to tourism and recreation along our coastline. Coast-related activities contribute almost $7 billion to our economy. We also have an obligation to take steps to confront climate change, and this takes us in the wrong direction. Delaware is our country’s lowest-lying state, and the effects of sea-level rise pose significant risks. For all of these reasons, I continue to stand with Delawareans in opposing drilling off the coast of Delaware or elsewhere in the Atlantic, and we will continue to voice our opposition”.
Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe – Sent a request to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to be excluded from the plan.
Maine and Georgia are undecided. Mississippi, Alabama and Alaska Governors are for the expansion.