RSSOil spill doesn't change state's stand on drilling
Virginia officials who backed exploration still think effort has merit
As crews try to contain and clean up a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico this week, Virginia leaders say the disaster has not dissuaded them from allowing oil drilling off the state's coast.
During the Virginia General Assembly session this year, the legislature expanded its offshore energy development policies to permit drilling 50 miles or more off the coast. Legislators previously had permitted natural gas and wind energy development efforts.
Although he is concerned about the situation in the Gulf of Mexico, Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) still is committed to pursuing offshore energy production, spokeswoman Stacey Johnson said.
"Environmental considerations are very important as we proceed toward an offshore lease sale in 2012," Johnson said. "[McDonnell] is also confident that with an exhaustive investigation we will learn what went wrong and ways to prevent similar accidents in the future."
The oil rig accident came just weeks after President Barack Obama (D) announced he would permit oil and gas exploration off the Atlantic coast.
Del. Scott Surovell (D-Dist. 44), of Alexandria, said the state should be focusing on developing a renewable energy industry, not drilling.
The recent accident "is a clear example of why we need to find different ways to create energy in this country," Surovell said. "Hopefully this will be a wake-up call to people."
State Sen. J. Chapman Petersen (D-Dist. 34) of Fairfax, who favors offshore oil and gas exploration, said the recent accident did not change his mind. Although the oil exploration bill passed the House of Delegates on a largely party line vote, he was among the Northern Virginia Democrats who backed it in the Senate.
Petersen said he still supports exploration to see what resources exist. A company would have to demonstrate oil production would not harm the environment or interfere with naval operations before full-scale production could begin, he said.
"Clearly, an accident of this magnitude is a cost that has to be considered," Petersen said. "But we haven't even determined that there's an asset there."
It will be at least eight to 10 years before any oil is produced off Virginia's coast, Petersen said.