"Offshore Florida oil: Not much there, there " From a recent report...not much oil off Florida.

[madfloridian]

I see that our president is going to go along with possible offshore drilling. Here's a reminder of a recent report about oil off Florida's shores. Heads up.

From the Orlando Sentinel last week:

Offshore Florida oil: Not much there, there

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 26, 2010……..A new report says drilling in Florida waters would “have no discernible impact” on gas prices or the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, but could pump millions into state coffers.

The Senate-commissioned report by the Collins Center for Public Policy studied the potential impact of drilling in state waters within 10.3 miles of the Florida Gulf coast. The report did not give tax revenue estimates for oil and gas produced in Florida waters, but said other Gulf states have seen annual revenues from $52 million to $200 million over the past several years.

However, the report also said that the state’s estimated oil reserves – less than 100 million barrels – would satisfy the U.S. demand for oil for less than a week.

“Estimated oil reserves in federal waters in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico are more substantial (a little less than 4 billion barrels),” the report said.

The path to lifting the ban on offshore drilling is unclear. Current Senate President Jeff Atwater has said the Senate will move very cautiously on the issue, but his successor Sen. Mike Haridopolos as well as House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon are both proponents of lifting the ban. However, the two most likely nominees for governor, Republican Bill McCollum and Democrat Alex Sink, have also been cool to the idea so far.

I doubt Senator Bill Nelson will stand firm against it now as his health care vote appears to have shifted some polls against him.

So let's be honest, this is about money for the states...."enriching their coffers".

[flyarm]

1. Obama ready to kick start Gulf oil drilling

CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/31/obama.energy/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

(snip)
The GOP has long championed additional domestic drilling to lessen America's dependence on outside energy sources. And while the plan could help win Republican support for other White House initiatives, it won't find many fans among environmentalists.

*************

St. Petersburg Times

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/03/obama-ready-to-kick-start-gulf-oil-drilling.html

March 30, 2010

Obama ready to kick start Gulf oil drilling

WASHINGTON -- President Obama on Wednesday will announce a broad new push for domestic oil drilling that could include the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Details obtained by the St. Petersburg Times and other news organizations indicate the Interior Department proposal could be the strongest push yet to open up drilling off Florida's coast. But steps would be taken to keep rigs far enough offshore (125 miles or more) and away from military areas.

The new zones would fall under a five-year plan that would require extensive study. But Obama is signaling to Congress that he is willing to move on the sensitive issue as a way of advancing a sprawling energy and climate bill, expected to include drilling, through the Senate.

Obama will announce the proposal along with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, the theme being energy security. Florida once had a united political front against drilling but some lawmakers have moderated their views under a big push by the GOP.

The state also lost Sen. Mel Martinez, who stood in solid opposition with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Gov. Charlie Crist replaced Martinez, who quit last summer, with George LeMieux, who has said he is open to drilling, if done safely.

Nelson recently met with Salazar on drilling but refused to discuss what was said.

************


The hard copy paper has a more extensive article. Do remember, 125 miles is not to "see" them, and 200 miles is to limit daily impact on the beaches from rigs. Where is the push for alternative energy????

Thank you Obama...so today while we protest Newt at the Vinoy( hotel in St Pete..) on drilling...will there be signs for Obama too?

With democrats like this we don't need to protest repigs! We have our very own!!

[Submariner]

2. *** JOBS ***

It's a jobs program. Nothing to do with quantity.

Most all the fisheries are gone, and the reefs are dying a slow death from our acidification of the ocean. The time to get upset was 30 years ago. It way past too late to save much now, so might as well drill it and get some short term gain out of it. It's the American way.

[flyarm]

5. understand this FLORIDA'S ECONOMY AND JOBS are dependant on our beaches!

our tax base is predicated on Beaches and tourists!

Ever hear of hurricanes?..Katrina ? Well Katrina came through the Gulf of Mexico where these oil drills will be planted! As did Ivan, and Francis ..and many many other hurricanes..some at Cat5!

Think how many jobs will be lost if our beaches get contaminated with fucking oil from oil rigs in the Gulf..that toally kill our fish and water sports and boating ..etc.!!

One spill will kill this state!

[GoCubsGo]

15. Which is why the drilling will probably never happen...

The repugs are screaming to drill. Well, it's THEIR backyard that is getting opened up. Watch how fast they will change their tune now. They want drilling UNTIL it affects their own bottom lines. I live in South Carolina. This is a bulk of our economy, too. My asshole Senators are all for expanding off-shore oil drilling. However, they want it elsewhere, as do all the coastal property and resort owners who helped put them in office. Just like they were all for the reprocessing of nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site--as long as it got sent over to Yucca Mountain in the end. They're having conniptions over the Yucca Mt. closing. It will be the same thing regarding offshore oil drilling. I guarantee you they won't be as enthusiastic now that their own backyards are threatened.

[PVnRT]

17. To be fair, platforms are designed to withstand hurricanes

Many platforms are built in the Gulf and the north Atlantic, and are suposed to be designed to withstand even Category 5 winds. That doesn't change the salient point about the effect on Florida yourism, nor the fact that there just isn't much oil there to begin with.

[flyarm]

19. how did that work during katrina..not too well..and remember it was a Cat 5 while going through the

the Gulf..when it got to New Orleans and the gulf states it was downgraded to Cat 3.

yes..it was CAT 5 going through the Gulf..right through where they propose these drilling platforms..nothing is withstanding a Cat 5 in the fucking gulf!

Keep buying the fucking bullshit..I live on the gulf..bullshit is bullshit! Every study shows an enviornmental disaster if a Cat 5 hit a drilling platform in the Gulf.


Remember Exon Valdez..was a ship...and ships aren't meant to spill oil!..I don't give a fuck what they tell you they are designed for!

bullshit is bullshit!

I don't care what they tell you..they still destroy the environment...and that is what every Dem in my state of Florida has stood for and what our plantforms as a party are!

They are still an ecological nightmare!

"They SAY" alot of things..they said Obama was a liberal democrat too..I just can't swallow that kool aide..

they also said Bush was a uniter..same as Obama.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[flyarm]

21. i wasn't attacking you I was just adding to what you said! sorry you took offense

I was expanding what you said!

sorry you misread it!

I prob came off harsh because i am mad as hell and not taking it anymore..it is something i have fought against for so many years here in Fla and i was simply expanding what you said.

It was not meant as an attack on what you wrote..simply adding to what you wrote.

[LaPera]

25. Jobs - not a bad reason.

[guidod]

3. I think you're right, Bill Nelson

won't stand for it for a second. Obama said he was going to do this in his campaign speeches, so it looks like he's holding true to his words, which IMO he should. I personally don't like it, but what are you going to do? He could be testing the republicans.

[flyarm]

6. bullshit..I don't know one dem in this state of Florida that will vote to fuck our beaches ..

and most people's livelyhood!

They are protesting Newt in St Pete today because he is pushing oil drilling in the Gulf..so it seems the one who has the authority to do anything like this ( which Newt does not) should be the one we are protesting..no Repig would get away with this..Kerry stood tall for the enviornment in Fla in 2004..wtf..and this guy is supposedly a democrat????????..well pigs finally fly!..Pink pigs at that!

Go Green my ass!!!!!!!!!!!

[madfloridian]

9. Ah, yes, he promised it. I posted about it last night. He said he would do it.

Ah,yes, he must keep his word, right?

What he said was in effect that he knew it would not work or really help, but he would support it anyway.

From 2008...Obama supports the drilling plan of the Gang of 10

Friday, he said he was still not a fan of drilling, telling the Palm Beach paper, "I think it's important for the American people to understand we're not going to drill our way out of this problem."

Obama also said, in a separate statement issued by his campaign, that he supported the bipartisan energy plan offered by 10 senators Friday.

"Like all compromises, it also includes steps that I haven't always supported," he said. "I remain skeptical that new offshore drilling will bring down gas prices in the short term or significantly reduce our oil dependence in the long term, though I do welcome the establishment of a process that will allow us to make future drilling decisions based on science and fact."

The proposal would end most of the ban on drilling. It would allow a 50-mile buffer on the East Coast, as well as Florida's Gulf Coast. Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina would be permitted to start oil and natural gas exploration outside the buffer.

In other words he doesn't really like it but he will support it.

[Baclava]

31. "BIll Nelson won't stand for it" - uh, he just said he's on-board

scroll down

[xchrom]

4. It looks like they're gonna do it any way. Nt

[flyarm]

7. Never in my life did I ever think a democrat would advocate for drilling offshore in Fla.

in all my life I never have seen a democrat advocate destroying the environment like this!

This has been a 100% republican stand..fought by democrats!

How do you reconcile this?????????

We now have Romney care..

FISA immunity for the telecoms

Re-authorizing the Patriot act.

They robbed my state of our primary votes..

his people are fucking the Teachers Unions and our public schools!!!

thousands upon thousands of more soldiers Obama has sent to the middle east..instead of drawing down our troops..someone who campaigned as a anti war candidate...what a bunch of bullshit..he has escalated more than Bush could do!


Gitmo closed yet????? nope!!
renditions stopped?? nope

wall street is bonusing themselves on our dollar..


how does anyone reconcile this??..how?? seriously..how does anyone reconcile this?????????

when Bush tried this ..it was disgusting..it was horrible ..it was treasonable..

but now?????

when Flordia democrats fought so hard against this shit from republicans and held this back through Jeb and a Republican White House for 8 fucking years!

crickets..from dems..

I am left with no option now..I am leaving the dem party ..and will re-register as a Indy..I never thought I would or could do that..as I was Once an elected Dem in the State of Florida..but now..the dems can kiss my ass!

[joeybee12]

8. But, but, but....there's "clean" coal, too...

...Obama is an environmental disaster the size of the SS Exxon Valdez.

[flyarm]

12. your damn right he is! He is a republican in sheeps clothes!

only worse..he has conned the idiots and sheeple and the little paid propaganda hacks around here!!

[crazyjoe]

10. why would they drill there if there's no oil?

[hughee99]

11. Jobs? n/t

[Individualist]

13. See post #5.

[flyarm]

14. so what the fuck did we turn the lights off in cities world wide for a couple days ago?

what a fucking hypocritical joke!

Can I tell you how many times in my democatic life I protested as a Democrat against this??..you nor I have the time to write it all down!

earth day shit..what a crock of shit!

Did you buy new light bulbs..for this total con job??????????

[flyarm]

16. and many of the jobs that would be created will be outsourced..count on fucking that!

yeah will create jobs my ass!


seen any roll back of NAFTA????????

[flyarm]

18. "I think it's important for the American people to understand we're not going to drill our way out

"I think it's important for the American people to understand we're not going to drill our way out of this problem." Obama


so who and what is he doing this for???? If is not going to benefit the American people..who the fuck is it going to benefit????????? By destroying the environment?

Who is going to make the money off this??????

Unfortunately for Obama the American people are starting to understand who and what he thinks he is working for ..and it sure as fucking hell isn't the "American People"..or the Democratic party..especially the Democratic party!

Go ahead attack me on that..expose yourself..because there isn't a democrat in the State of Florida or on any coast that supports this shit!..or they didn't until now? Why would any democrat support destroying the ECO System that will do more harm than good... even by his own words!

Bush and the republicans and Jeb tried to do this shit and we stood against them..every vote, every protest..we held them back..now I am supposed to be doing yoga dances because a "supposedly democrat president" is doing this..who the fuck are you if you call yourself a democrat and support this fucking shit?????????

I don't know who would support this and call themselves a Democrat..who are the people that support this and the busting of Teachers unions..accelerates the war.. gives immunity to the telecoms for spying on us..and more and more GOP shit this guy has signed onto!

Who is fucking kidding who here..he even projects his health bill as Romney care..so how the fuck does that hurt Romney?????? So now Obama channels Romney..why not just have the real Romney????????

red is now white..and green is blue..wtf?

[GreenTea]

22. -Alaska-Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia

ALL republican governors in ALL red states. It's NOT opening up drilling in sensitive areas like ANWR that we are talking about here, there's already drilling in the Gulf & the Atlantic coast and off Alaska.....these are red states, they want oil drilling, they obviously vote republican and they want drilling & the majority of republicans are voters who want it...

I certainly don't want to see more off-shore drilling opened up in my state, California nor in many other environmentally sensitive areas like ANWR and I KNOW I won't under Obama...

the drilling is off-shore of all red states, consensus is there's not much oil they haven't already been drilling, i"Drill Baby Drill" is republican politic because they want to drill everywhere even in more sensitive areas....

How many Democratic Governors are in the those oil drilling states in question? - Alaska - Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia - ALL republican governors in ALL red states.

I believe it's political and Obama knows exactly what he's doing.

Obama's is pretty much shoving the off-shore oil drilling right down the republicans loud demanding throats off-shore in mostly republicans states, also Alaska another red state will see some drilling - but there are no plans to drill in The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and it will NOT be touched!

There's not much oil in most of these places such as FL as YOU state, so let the republicans and oil companies bitch...when they say there's no oil in these southern states....and when they want to open other more sensitive areas (and they will)... Obama can easily then say NO. We are not going to open up sensitive areas for drilling we gave you huge sections...We gave you republicans areas you wanted..."There's very little oil in those areas", too bad. Now shut the fuck up!

[madfloridian]

23. Tourism group claimed the drilling will be GOOD for tourism.

It is so amazing how they spin it. It is amazing how some here are spinning Obama's support for the drilling as a very smart political move.

Florida tourism group endorses 30 mile offshore drilling as healthy for tourism.

A Florida tourism group has endorsed an idea that politicians and environmentalists have been trying to prevent for decades: the exploration and production of oil and natural gas in the waters off Florida's Gulf Coast. State tourism officials long have opposed drilling off Florida's shores, but the Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus now says drilling will help preserve the state's No. 1 industry.

"Changes in global energy markets have affected the price and supply of oil and natural gas and subsequently may have a future impact on Florida's tourism industry," the association said in a three-page position statement.

The association said it would support offshore drilling and production, but the operations must be at least 30 miles from the coastline. Florida's $65 billion-a-year tourism industry employs nearly 1 million people.

[GreenTea]

24. Glad to see you recognize that it's a great political move...

It is....In republican red state areas, with all republican governors...who cares, let them eat shit, they are drilling all over those areas right now anyway, what's a few more?

I can see what Obama is doing very clearly...it is indeed a smart move....Republicans will get nothing from it....

And Gee dude, Florida might even have another tourist trap, reap in some more dollars....Boat rides out to the off-shore oil wells with an on board lunch....Why so glum?

[madfloridian]

27. I am not a dude.

I tend to frown on the political plays and ploys. What he is doing to schools is not just political, it is the death knell of public schools. Off shore oil....not a good play.

He is not going to get the approval of the rapid right no matter how much he caters.

[Nikki Stone1]

26. There isn't much oil offshore anyway, not significant enough to be worth exploration

I smell an oil company subsidy.

[onethatcares]

28. this will have no effect on jobs either.

aside from a few pilot boats that will take crews to the rigs, there will be no refineries in Florida, especially the nature coast, or even along the hernando/pasco/pinellas coasts,

I see no upside to this at all. But with our entire state government on the developers teat, we peeons don't stand a chance. The hotel industry is the one that would have the greatest impact on legislation like this, but are they standing on the sidelines? The could leave a nice brochure in each room describing how great it would be to have tarballs that needed to be washed off feet, and wd-40 dispensers at each entry.

again, we're gonna get sold to the highest bidder.

Jeeez, they wouldn't even name the group that was pushing for this shit.

Oh, and bill nelson, don't you think it's time he retired?

[flyarm]

29. On the news on the Gulf Coast of Fla just now, the head of the top environment group just said..

This will not creat Jobs.

This is not for national security.

This will not increase supply.

This is for oil corporations profit and profit only!

A rig would be 125 miles off the coast line of Sarasota!

[Baclava]

30. Senator Bill Nelson (D- FL) weighs in

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For more than three decades, Sen. Bill Nelson ( D-FL ) has fought alongside other Florida lawmakers to protect the state from the adverse affects of offshore oil drilling. In 2006, he authored the bipartisan law that keeps oil rigs at least 100 miles off the state’s west coast. The plan proposed today by President Obama will require Nelson and Congress to agree to changes in that law. Here is what Nelson says about the president’s new proposal:

“ I’ve talked many times to < Interior Department > Secretary < Ken > Salazar and told him if they drilled too close to Florida’s beaches they’d be risking the state’s economy and environment. I believe this plan shows they heeded that concern. And it ought to derail the scheme in the Florida Legislature to drill three miles offshore. Now I need to hear from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. I want him to look me in the eye and tell me it will not compromise national security by interfering with the unfettered space we have for training and testing our most sophisticated military weapons systems. ”

http://billnelson.senate.gov/news/details.cfm?id=323544&

[Taverner]

32. We're gonna drill in Alaska

Florida, meh!

Give me that old time region :)

[Baclava]

33. Have you seen the map?

[Taverner]

34. Oops - never mind me

This is bizarre