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Offshore drilling debate heats up in Florida
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Area Closed: Oil Spill
Debate is heating up in the Florida Legislature and across the state as the oil industry makes a big push for Florida decision-makers to lift the 26 year old offshore oil and gas drilling moratorium. With energy prices rising and consumers feeling pressure from prices at the pump, many Floridians are starting to wonder if drilling could help alleviate some of the high costs. However, even some supporters are leery of the industry plan to drill as close as 3 miles to Florida beaches.
"This particular issue is one that has obviously reached critical mass," says Florida Congressman Adam Putnam. "We recognize our obligation as Floridians as major energy consumers, that we have an obligation to review our previous position, to recognize the improvements in technology, but frankly, 3 miles off our coast is an unacceptable alternative."
Many argue that any drilling, no matter how far off-shore, is a bad idea. "Offshore drilling is dirty, dangerous and it doesn't deliver," said Adam Rivera, legislative advocate for Environment Florida.
At each stage of testing, exploration, and production, drilling inevitably produces contaminated water. The oil and gas business uses toxic drilling muds, and periodically spills oil and sometimes even radioactive drill lubricants into the ocean. Pollutants like mercury and persistent hydrocarbons contaminate fish and sea life near platforms and massive spills kill seabirds, sea turtles, fish and marine mammals. These pollutants also make their way into the food chain when consumers eat fresh sea food in Florida's thriving coastal communities.
Another argument against drilling is the potential for spills, which even industry experts say are not completely avoidable. Just a few years ago, hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed over 100 drilling rigs and platforms and over 450 pipelines. The Minerals Management Service estimated almost one million gallons spilled during the hurricane from offshore facilities; the Coast Guard documented an estimated nine million gallons from onshore and offshore oil facilities were spilled.
Other figures show that economically speaking, offshore drilling may not add up for the Sunshine State. According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, tourism accounts for over $65 billion in revenue to the state each year. The absolute highest estimates by the oil industry for state revenues are somewhere in the $2 billion range. If even a few small percentage points of tourism were lost because of tar balls on the beaches, coastal residents choosing to relocate because of the risks associated with living near a rig, or potential spills (which occur no matter how good the technology is), Florida would actually stand to lose, rather than gain, revenue because of offshore exploration and drilling.
It appears that some time in the near future, we will see if the Florida Legislature agrees that the stakes are too high to open Florida's pristine, world class beaches to the interests of the oil industry, or if they believe a quick energy fix that has potential to bring jobs and boost the economy outweighs the substantial risks.
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