The U.S. House voted today to expand offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, setting a dangerous precedent for North Carolina's shores and the rest of the East Coast.
The House also failed to pass an amendment by Representatives Markey and Hinchey
to recapture tens of billions of dollars of lost oil and gas royalties from
deepwater wells in the Gulf. The estimated revenue lost to the federal
government is $9.5 billion in the next five years alone.
The
offshore drilling provisions in the tax package passed today directs the
Department of Interior to lease more than 8 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico
for oil and natural gas development, bringing the messy process of energy
development one step closer to Florida’s pristine beaches. The bill also
directs almost 40% of the royalties generated in the Gulf to just four
Gulf States,
resulting in the loss of tens of billions of dollars to the Federal treasury
over the next 50 years.
The provision passed today does not directly threaten North Carolina's coast, but sets a dangerous precedent by opening to drilling areas long protected from the destructive practice. North Carolina's coast, along with the rest of the East Coast, is currently protected from drilling by a Congressional moratorium, which has been in place for more than 25 years.
