The debate over offshore drilling along America’s coastlines is
being pumped up by none other than California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. John Peterson’s, R-Pa., office confirmed
the former actor has become involved in the discussion, sending a
letter to the California Congressional Delegation strongly opposing
an efforts to end or weaken the federal moratorium on oil and gas
leasing off the coast of California.
The legislation being referred to, the Outer Continental Shelf
Natural Gas Relief Act of 2005, was crafted by Peterson along with
Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, and calls for unlocking the supply
of natural gas in federal waters and for lifting the presidential
moratoriums blocking such measures. The bill is gaining widespread
support in Congress.
“The California congressional delegation is an important lot,
for sure, but they certainly aren’t monolithic in terms of their
voting sensibilities,” Peterson’s Communications Director Chris
Tucker said, adding several members of the delegation have already
signed onto the Peterson-Abercrombie bill.
“We’re hopeful to attract more in the very near future.”
Among those from California backing the legislation are Reps.
Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Dana Rohrbacher, John Doolittle, Wally
Herger, Daniel Lungren, Gary Miller, Devin Nunes, George Radanovich
and William Thomas.
Tucker said Schwarzenegger’s letter was sent out following the
legislation’s successful passage in the House Appropriations
Committee last week.
“It’s the governor’s position that the current moratoria should
remain in place, despite record-high energy prices and new
technological developments that allow us to acquire and produce
energy cleanly and more efficiently than ever before,” Tucker
said.
According to a copy of the letter obtained by The Era,
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who is up for re-election this year,
writes to the delegation that he strongly opposes any efforts to
end or weaken the federal moratorium, noting he will fight any
effort to expand offshore drilling as long as he’s governor.
“This current movement to lift the ban is nothing more than a
weak attempt to cater to oil interests in the face of high gasoline
prices,” Schwarzenegger said. “I encourage you to move your focus
instead to reducing our consumption of fossil fuels and supporting
development of alternative fuels such as ethanol in order to
diversify our energy portfolio.”
The Peterson-Abercrombie bill does take alternative fuels into
account, with Peterson saying previously he sees natural gas as a
bridge to those alternatives and can act as a buffer for consumers
from the volatile price markets that define the oil trade.
The legislation has also received the backing of such agencies
as the National Corn Growers Association and Agriculture Energy
Alliance, among others.
According to Schwarzenegger, the current moratorium “enjoys
widespread support from the people of California, including
bipartisan support from elected leaders.”
“It has been widely recognized by the overwhelming majority of
Californians that there are better ways to address our energy needs
without populating our waters with oil platforms and additional
scars to our beautiful coastline. Rather than watching the sun set
on the western horizon each day, millions of Californians and
visitors will now see grotesque oil platforms in plain sight.
“California’s beautiful coastline is an integral part of our
culture, our heritage and our economy. Putting it at risk would be
an absolute travesty.”
Schwarzenegger added the state has dedicated $6.5 million to the
Hydrogen Highway initiative to build hydrogen fueling stations and
expand research for cleaner, reliable fuels, among other
elements.
Earlier, the legislation met resistance from Florida lawmakers
who believe drilling in the Shelf would threaten the state’s
beaches and tourism industry.
