Crist clarifies his position on offshore drilling

Addressing his Climate Summit in Miami this morning, Florida Governor Charlie Crist could not ignore the thorny issue of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

Clarifying his apparent reversal last week over offshore drilling, he called for an "open discussion" of the issue "without compromising Florida's sensitive eco-sytems and her natural beauty."

He went on: "Only when we are able to do so far enough from Florida's coast, safe enough for our people, and clean enough for our beaches, should we even consider increasing our oil supply by drilling off Florida's shore. Let me repeat: far enough, safe enough and clean enough."

As someone sitting next to me said: "That's a lot of qualifications!"

- David Adams

[St. Petersburg Times photo by Scott Keeler]

- David Adams

Comments

There are thousands of fisherman that come to florida souly to fish off our coasts because of the beauty of our oceans and the great fishing that there is around here. The second an oil rig goes up and distroys our scenery the second there is 1 spill is the day we loose out on all those tourist coming down here for fishing. and all for what? for 30 cents off a gallon of fuel if that? and when will the oil be able to actually be used? 5-10 years from now? All it does is enables the oil companies to keep us around with our addiction to oil. Us as americans need to go cold turky on oil and say we want change!

Obama'08

[Bill]

Empty chair charlie........mr. rhetoric.......mr. flip flop..........that's the great governor we have......Mr. no convictions.

[George M.]

I'm glad to see Gov. Crist flip-flop on this issue. I guess he was @ the beach this weekend and came to his senses....

perhaps all the morons screaming for drilling off the coast of florida should realize that this oil would not be available for almost ten years. after that, what's to stop the oil companies from selling internationally at top of the market prices? if you think that your gas prices will be lower by supporting offshore drilling, you are a total fool. dump that stupid suv
and get a vehicle with much better mpg.

[Ryan]

Let's complain about the high gas prices and then fight vehemently against any logical answers to the prices. How long am I going to hear "drilling here won't help tomorrow"!! OPEC sees us drilling for our own oil, they will push each other out of the way to drill more themselves.

Use your brains, increase the supply, demand goes down. The left cares only about one thing, keeping people miserable, then they can blame the right for people's misery. Drill here! It can be done safely. You guys think they pass the law there will be millions of oil rigs darkening the sun, overshadowing the beach. Quit crying, drill here drill now. By the way, it isn't the government's job to fix the oil prices, it's their job to get out of the way of market forces.

I guess he didn't get the VP slot...? This guy always knows which way the wind blows and when it changes directions.

[Dave]

I think this is great, its about time a politician listened to the needs to the people. To all the idiots who say we shouldn't be able to drill I guess you like $4 a gallon and I guess its okay for China to drill off our coast.

[Valrico Rick]

Drilling more holes in the ground Ryan will never solve the problem that has been created by our gluttony. The demand for oil must go down by restraint of use and alternative methods of energy! If we find more oil as the solution to this problem the demand will not only remain at unacceptable levels it will continue to rise, and this “event” will repeat itself again and again. Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, or the Alaskan Natural Preserve, or wherever we haven’t dug before will only give the problem to our children. It is your very attitude Ryan that has gotten us into this situation we are in. The bill for our complete and total disregard for the consequences of our actions will come due one day and someone will have to pay.

[jason jdawg]

I have an idea: FL needs a public notification system to keep us posted on "Governor Status". Red: "out of ofc - travelling". Yellow: "out of ofc - misc." Green: "gov in ofc". For ex: a morning news anchor can announce, "Today's Governor Status is expected to remain 'Green'. Relax and enjoy the day, the Governor is at the helm". The second comment might be popular for Fox affiliates in FL, lol.

[Tony]

If we were to begin drilling off or our coast we would only be keeping up with China and Vietnam who are drilling off of Cuba. Secondly, for those who state it will only help us 10 years from now. Go hug a different tree. Had we begun 10 years ago, we may not be where we are today. I understand we need to control our usage, but be realistic. The more we can produce, the less we have to rely on others. Wether it is today or 10 years from today. Our kids will thank us for it.

[Kimberly]

When is anyone going to mention English muffins as alternative fuel?

I get 20 miles to the muffin. In addition, bananas, milk, apples, etc. can fuel my bicycle.

I've heard of car-free bicyclists who travel to and from work anywhere from 6 miles to 40 miles round trip in the Tampa Bay area. I've talked with a lot of bicyclist who travel 8 to 12 miles to work, and they're not athletic or training for races.

On the one hand, car-free bicyclists aren't screaming to drill in the gulf.

On the other hand, if they drill in the gulf, all the car drivers will get it because the car-free bicyclists won't be using it for their bicycles.

Win-win situation if we promote and educate everyone on using bicycles for transportation.

[Mary]

So Kimberly, do you take a shower once you get to work after biking 6 or more miles in the Florida sun? If not, did you ask your coworkers how you smell? It's simply not practical for everyone. And Ryan, you need to go back to Econ 101. I don't know where you ever heard that increased supply leads to decreased demand. Higher prices lead to decreased demand. That is how a free market corrects itself. Generally, higher supplies mean lower prices which increases demand. Either way, with China growing exponentially, there is no end in sight for oil demand which will keep prices higher even with a greater supply. If we could guarantee that any oil we drill now or later will only go to us and not to the open world market, then, and only then, MIGHT we see prices stabilize. But be for real, they'll never go down unless demand evaporates.

[John]

Can someone answer this question please-
If demand for oil is based upon global usage, what will happen when emerging countries consumption goes up?
India & China could possibly be the top 2 oil consuming countries in the next 20 years.
What happens then?
When will the cost outweigh our addiction? From the way we act, everyone seems to think that oil is an endless supply.

Gov Crist & Sen McCain is RIGHT on the energy issue.

The U.S. needs an energy plan that includes: more safe drilling, nuclear, solar, wind & conservation.

[Dennis]

Ryan and Tony,

No matter how much you pretend it will, all of the drilling that we can do off Florida, California, and ANWR combined, even after the developmental period, will NOT have a major impact on gasoline prices. Even the oil industry admits this. The supply will not increase more than a scant few percent, and certainly won't be driving OPEC to drill more in response! It will at best save us a few nickels per gallon at the pump. It will also encourage the energy companies to focus on those efforts due to the high profit margins they are seeing, instead of turning focus towards alternative energy...effectively further delaying the push toward alternative energy. Between that and the damage to ecosystems and aesthetics, it's not even close to worth the price.

[Kimberly]

I've been bicycling to work in Pinellas for over 10 years.

They happen to have showers and an exercise room because they want to encourage employees to exercise and be healthy. I just do my bicycling (exercise) before and after work instead of during lunch. Healthy employees help reduce expenses for insurance, sickness, etc.

But if they didn't have showers, I could easily wash down completely and wash my hair in a bathroom sink.

Another option is to buy alcohol wipes or sprays to kill bacteria and wipe the body down. There are actually sprays made specifically so exercisers can clean up in this way.

Bacteria is what makes sweat stink. So, take a shower before you leave for work to wash off the old sweat and remove the build up of bacteria.

If you want to bicycle, run, in-line skate, or other to work, ask what amenities the company has for exercisers when you interview to get hired. There are some companies in the Tampa Bay area that provide those amenities or have a health club nearby where you can clean up.

[MC]

Right. 10 years from now how much oil are we going to actually have after drilling? Much of this is exploratory (and driven by faith and hope) and may yield very little in the end, or cost so much to find and refine that it won't even have been cost-effective. Yes, oil consumption won't disappear and it's foolhardy to think it will. But we do need to start reducing our use. Drive less, buy local, start a garden. You don't have to be a hippy or some tree-hugger to know oil is a non-renewable resource and it will one day run dry, despite how many oil rigs you set up on all coasts of the country.

We all need to seriously wake up and stop being such slaves to petrol. People act like it is so impossible to live within set parameters because for so long, as Americans, we've had the ridiculous attitude that we are deserving of everything we want (and ever things we don't know we want yet) when we want it. Our kids will not thank us. They will curse our hearts for burdening them with the task of developing solutions to the impending energy crisis that we have chosen to ignore and allow to grow out of control.

[Joe Citizen]

We'll get very little of the oil, the oil companies will continue to profit, demand will continue to go up, and we'll be left with same beautiful beaches as Loiusiana or Galvaston, TX! Bye Bye tourist dollars, taxes will rise and our best resourse will be ruined. Nice try by the empty suit with a bad tan to get on the ticket w/the old repub!

[Kimberly]

I was just listening to news on the TV. The reporter stated that energy needs were expected to be more than 50% higher by 2030.

"LONDON - China and India must ramp up efforts to curb oil demand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid devastating consequences for the world's energy supply, the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.

The agency said China and India will account for about 45 percent of the increase in global primary energy demand through 2030, when the world's energy needs are expected to be much more than 50 percent higher than they are today."

[Pete Bauer]

Mr. no convictions. Huh, hardly> You folks keep voting Republican and when your boy cozies what with big business you're like in Shock & Aw....another Republican failure that nobody wants to admit to. Just keep voting Republican, OK fine. Just stop whining about your votes brought about. Careful of what you ask for.

[Jay]

Ryan / Tony,

Your attempts to rationalize gas prices using very VERY VERY basic microeconmics is pathetic. Do you really think supply and demand are the only factors?

How's this? I can provide you with a method to cut the cost of gasoline by *HALF* without having to ride a bicycle, buy a hybrid, or start wearing hemp clothing.

Close the Enron Loophole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_loophole

Basically, the price you pay for fuel is based upon *speculation* from commodity brokers, not upon actual production or usage numbers. That's the primary reason why oil prices are over $130 a barrel - because it's not based in reality, but rather in the ethereal thoughts of how much people think they will pay for it.

Billions of dollars are being made every day by speculators trading in imaginary commodities that end up actually affecting real world resource prices. Simple supply and demand do not apply to a product that is traded in a complete vacuum.

Close that loophole, and you'll see reasonable gas prices within a week.

[FACT]

Anyone living in Fl who thinks we ought to drill in FL should tatto "sucker" on their forheads for future identification.

we need to quit undoing all the good our country has done in the past.

[Kimberly]

From the BBC
"What is keeping oil prices so high?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7469124.stm

How's this for providing the complete reasons?

As for bicycling, it's not just about reducing gas use. It's for physical, mental, and financial health. Check out all the medical studies on physical and mental benefits. Reducing oil use is just one more benefit.

[Ed]

As a former resident I have great regard for natural resources. If I can't buy the gas or pay for plane fare no visits will be made. All should consider, in recalling, all the fishermen and visitors will be in the same boat. It may take ten years but if it is not added where will we be in ten years. By that time you will also be out of water by not restricting growth and development. Think ahead.

[ShiGty]

I hate tree huggers. They always think about the worst that can happen. If we listened to all the conservatives for the ten years this whole thing would be and running already. Now it takes 4.00 a gallon to make people even to think of drilling. Why do people vote democrate?