Obama's possible interior secretary might push to shut down some offshore drilling

[pinto]

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Bloomberg)

President-elect Barack Obama’s potential choice for interior secretary would push to close offshore areas to oil and natural gas drilling, the head of the American Gas Association said Friday.

<snip>

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., has been endorsed by the head of the House Natural Resources Committee to run the department, which oversees federal lands and waters that produce about a third of the U.S. energy supply. Obama has yet to announce his pick.

<snip>

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to Obama on Dec. 3 supporting Grijalva’s nomination to head the department. A group of conservation scientists wrote Obama on Dec. 1, also supporting Grijalva.

The letter from the 60 scientists said challenges facing the next secretary require a broad thinker who understands how to protect and steward natural resources and lands in a changing climate under the pressure for increased energy production.



Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/100/story/1077927.html

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An environmentalist for Interior!

Kudos, President-elect Obama.

It's 'bout time.

[EFerrari]

1. Really good news.

[Bobbieo]

2. Yes, it is good news. Grijalva is my Congressman!

[balantz]

3. Yay Grijalva! I'm proud of my congressman! n/t

[Hekate]

4. President Obama won't let us down.

[bluestateguy]

5. I don't hear anybody saying "drill baby drill" anymore

Funny how $1.60 a gallon gas does that.

[ohio2007]

8. OPEC is selling it for $43 bbl.....we can afford to pay the pusher for our oil addiction

But still must push for much higher fuel efficiency inspite of the Detroit gas guzzler bailouts.
but, complacency will set in..........

[machI]

6. The Pelosi - Reid gambit worked

The Congress threw the Republicans a bone before the election, and now are going to take it back.

Here you go Republicans, go ahead and drill.

Oops we changed our minds, no drilling allowed.

We don't have 60 in the Senate, but we have enough. Let the stupid Republicans scream, we are running the Government now, not the big oil CEOs pulling the strings in the shadows.

[Kolesar]

7. The drilling would have been near where you live!

It is interesting to hear your opinion on it. Does the drilling story get much play in the local media?

[machI]

12. Not much news here from the local broadcast stations

WJHG and WMBB are noticeably conservative, they slip in short comments between stories, but there really is not much support for either side on the oil drilling issue.

Both of our Senators oppose drilling. Bill Nelson openly opposes drilling while Mel Martinez takes a (gutless) triangular position where he can be both for it and against it.

Mel Martinez is on his way out, probably to cash in with some defense contractor. I can only hope we run a solid Democrat that stomps the living you-know-what out of Jeb Bush.

[Kolesar]

13. thanks...eom

[ohio2007]

9. How about pushing for offshore windfarms in place of oil rigs

That will proove if the environmentalist appointee has brass balls or will be blowing it out his ass for the term.

[SlowDownFast]

11. Seconded. n/t

[defendandprotect]

10. GOOD--!!!

[bdamomma]

14. thank goodness.

the environment is already messed up no thanks to bush and his cohorts.