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Congress: No drilling off our Outer Banks
Clean cars a better solution than offshore drilling
Tapping into consumers’ exasperation with high gas prices, President Bush, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, and a host of others are pushing to open up North Carolina’s shores to drilling for oil and natural gas.
Oil rigs off of the Outer Banks won’t lower gas prices, but they will harm the environment and the region’s economy. Chronic pollution from drilling would threaten marine life and beaches that draw millions of visitors a year. What’s more, increasing oil consumption will increase greenhouse gas pollution—which scientists agree needs to be cut sharply to avoid the most dangerous impacts of global warming.
Acting locally
North Carolina policy makers—not just Congress—can take action that will provide relief from high gas prices to Tar Heels in the short term and decrease our contribution to global warming in the long term without taking a toll on the Outer Banks.
The Clean Cars Program, for example, would require new cars sold in North Carolina to be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel efficient. The requirement, already adopted in 14 other states, could save consumers as much as $40 each month on gasoline and reduce global warming pollution by 3 million tons each year.
An Environment North Carolina-backed legislative study is currently examining the benefits of the program, with a report and recommendations due to the General Assembly in 2009.
“The real solution to Americans’ oil woes is to use less of it,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, Environment North Carolina state director, “and there are a host of alternatives available.”
Even if North Carolina’s shores were opened to drilling tomorrow, oil and natural gas wouldn’t flow for another ten years, according to the United States Department of Energy. At peak production, this added oil would not have a significant impact on the price of gasoline in the U.S.
In addition to the Clean Cars Program, Environment North Carolina is advocating increased funding for public transportation, clean energy requirements, and energy efficiency.
Oil drilling off the Outer Banks poses great environmental risk, with little economic benefit.
