Oil drilling

June 23, 2008 -- When John McCain is in California this week he will no doubt try to tie himself to Gov. Schwarzenegger and distance himself from President Bush. But when it comes to offshore drilling, an important issue to coastal states, like California, Senator McCain is on Bush's--not Schwarzenegger's--side.

When McCain announced last week he wanted to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling, President Bush and big oil were quick to side with him, even though the idea has been met with much criticism and would do nothing to solve our short-term energy crisis. Just as bad, Senator McCain himself campaigned against off-shore drilling in states like Oregon, Maine, and even California in the run-up to the 2000 election.    » read more »

June 23, 2008 -- After years of saying he opposed drilling in our coastal waters, Senator McCain changed his position and has embraced President Bush's vision for offshore drilling. On CBS's Face the Nation, McCain advisor Carly Fiorina tried to defend John McCain's decision to cave in to Big Oil.

Offshore oil rig: Photo by arbyreed (CC)    » read more »

June 20, 2008 -- This week John McCain reversed himself again, announcing that he now supports lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling despite previously opposing such a plan to reverse decades of U.S. policy. McCain and President Bush stood behind the plan even though it does nothing to address current gas prices, it would take years to see a drop of oil from these leases, and oil industry execs already have thousands of untapped leases at their disposal.    » read more »

Speech to Follow, Expand on Failed Bush Energy Policies

June 17, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.— Senator John McCain is slated to give a major policy address on energy issues later today in front of an audience of oil industry executives in Houston.

Yesterday Senator McCain called for lifting a nearly three decade old federal moratorium on drilling off of our coasts. "There are areas off our coasts that should be open to exploration and exploitation , and I hope we can take the first step by lifting the moratoria," said Senator McCain.

Yesterday’s Sierra Club response to Senator McCain’s announcement can be found here .

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director    » read more »

New Radio Ad Calls for Support of Clean Energy Legislation

June 16, 2008 -- Washington, DC: In remarks today Senator McCain indicated that in his speech tomorrow in the heart of the fossil fuel industry he will focus not on clean energy and fighting global warming but instead on opening America’s coasts to drilling.

“Tomorrow, I'll call for lifting the federal moratorium for states that choose to permit exploration. I think that this -- and perhaps providing additional incentives for states to permit exploration off their coasts --- would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis,” said McCain.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director:    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- During his campaign John McCain has tried to create distance from the Bush Administration by talking tough on the environment. But you just never know which John McCain you're going to get. Today, Senator McCain will cave to his friends in the oil and gas industries by declaring that he supports lifting the federal moratorium on drilling exploration, even though he supported the moratorium the last time he ran for president and has opposed drilling off the coast of places like Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, and Maine.    » read more »

June 17, 2008 -- “There are some who believe that the only solution to our skyrocketing energy crisis is to drill, drill, and drill. And one of their primary targets is the Outer Continental Shelf.

Congress chose to protect these federal waters from oil exploitation in 1981. And Congress has voted to renew that ban every year since then.

Offshore oil drilling rig: Photo by Beau Wade (CC)

But today, these federal protections are under attack.

Let me be clear: lifting the moratoria is a false promise and an unnecessary risk.    » read more »

Statement of Aaron Colangelo, NRDC Senior Attorney

SAN FRANCISCO May 23, 2008 – A federal court struck down a rule exempting oil and gas development projects from pollution-prevention requirements of the Clean Water Act. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in a case brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The decision will protect thousands of streams throughout the West from sediment contamination caused by energy exploration and development, according to NRDC.

Following is a statement by Aaron Colangelo, senior attorney at NRDC:    » read more »

Alaska Filing to Challenge Decision

May 21, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced today the state of Alaska intends to file suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne’s decision to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear: Photo by Bruno D Rodrigues (CC)

“We appreciate the Secretary’s recognition that oil and gas activities are already regulated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to prevent impacts to the polar bear and do not pose a threat to the polar bear,” Governor Palin said.    » read more »

Second time this week that offshore drilling proponents have attempted to lift moratorium on the East and West Coasts

May 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Last night, New Jersey’s Senators helped defeat the second attempt in the U.S. Senate this week – and the fourth attempt in the past year – to potentially open up drilling near the Jersey Shore. U.S Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) helped lead the opposition to the attempt to lift the moratorium on the Outer Continental Shelf, which could lead to drilling less than 100 miles from New Jersey.    » read more »

Interior Department Plan Will Allow Destructive Energy Development; Attacks Integrity of Endangered Species Act; Statement of Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope

May 14, 2008 -- “After months of delay, the Interior Department has finally recognized that polar bears are on the brink of extinction. But the administration’s decision is riddled with loopholes, caveats, and backhanded language that could actually undermine protections for the polar bear and other species.

“We can’t protect polar bears unless we combat global warming and keep oil drills out of their habitat. Yet, the administration is so keen to appease Big Oil they tout the continuation of drilling—in spite of the listing—in the headline of their press release.    » read more »

Alaska Governor Pledges to Work for Conservation

May 14, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its decision today to list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne called Alaska Governor Sarah Palin this morning to inform her of the USFWS decision, and assured her that oil and gas developments are not to blame.

Polar bear, Alaska: Photo by AlaskaPodshow.com (CC)    » read more »

Bush, Conservatives Call for More of the Same in Response to Growing Energy Crisis

May 13, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.-Today, the U.S. Senate voted down an amendment by a margin of 42 to 56 (60 votes were needed for approval) that would have opened pristine lands and coastal waters, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to new oil drilling. It would have also promoted the use of expensive, dirty, and dangerous "unconventional" fuels produced from liquid coal and oil shale.

ANWR: Photo by Madhav Pai (CC)    » read more »

Menendez has led efforts in the Senate to defeat plans that would open up drilling less than 100 miles from New Jersey

May 9, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John McCain will be in New Jersey for a press conference on the topic of the environment. While he is in the state, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) is challenging him to denounce a plan that would open up drilling for oil and natural gas less than 100 miles from the Jersey Shore.    » read more »

Sales Launch Enhanced Revenue Sharing Program, Increased Royalty Rates; Sale 206 Sets Record for Highest Total in High Bids

March 19, 2008 -- NEW ORLEANS — Two federal sales of offshore oil and natural gas leases in the Eastern and Central Gulf of Mexico attracted more than $3.7 billion in high bids today, inaugurating enhanced revenue sharing with oil and gas producing Gulf states, instituting higher royalty rates and underscoring the region’s continuing importance as a vital source of domestic energy production for the nation.

The first sale, the Central Gulf of Mexico Sale 206, attracted a record-setting $3,677,688,245 in high bids. This sets the record in high bids in U.S. leasing history since area-wide leasing began in 1983.    » read more »