Legislaive Update - June 2010

Oil Spill Reminds Us of Need to Protect Florida’s Coastline
And to Develop Clean Energy Sources
 
As the BP gulf oil spill has unfolded over the past two months, I’m sure you’ve been as troubled as I have been at the images on the news each night – dark plumes of oil billowing from the ocean floor, sensitive wetlands irreparably harmed, helpless pelicans covered in reddish-brown residue, and tar balls washing up on north Florida’s pristine beaches – not to mention the unknown damage to aquatic life in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
Even though we’ve yet to see an impact on South Florida beaches, our state’s economy is already suffering.  Despite a $25 million dollar ad campaign to attract out-of-state visitors, North Florida hotels, restaurants, charter fishing and other tourism-oriented businesses are bracing for the worst summer season in decades.  Ultimately, economists estimate the BP disaster could cost Florida’s economy $2.2 billion dollars and 39,000 jobs, at a time when we already have unprecedented unemployment and home foreclosures.
 
It’s hard to believe, then, as one of our worst environmental nightmares seems to be coming true, that just last year, some of my colleagues in the Florida Legislature were considering legislation to allow drilling as close as three miles from our shores.  The idea was just as wrong then as it is now, but unfortunately it took the worst oil spill in American history – from a rig 48 miles offshore – to drive the point home to some of Florida’s leaders!
 
Clearly, the oil spill has had an impact on the way Floridians view oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. A poll released by Quinnipiac College this week showed that Florida voters oppose “increasing the amount of drilling for oil and natural gas in offshore waters” by 51 to 42 percent.  That’s a dramatic change from April, when 66 percent of Floridians supported increased drilling, and only 27 percent opposed it.
 
To be clear, I have always opposed expanding oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, because like many of you, I realize that our natural resources – which are essential to our state’s economy -- are too precious to risk for oil, particularly at a time when we should be looking for cleaner, renewable energy sources.
 
That’s why I support Governor Crist’s call for a July Special Session to consider putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would ban oil drilling within Florida’s territorial waters.  Now that we’ve seen the damage an oil spill nearly 50 miles offshore can do to the Gulf Coast, we must have the political will to ensure that we never have the potential for such a catastrophe in Florida’s territorial waters (which extend about ten miles from our coast, for oil drilling purposes).  We can also use this opportunity to consider tax relief for Florida businesses that have been impacted by the BP disaster, as Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has suggested.
 
If any good is to come from this disaster, it is the opportunity we have to shape Florida’s public policy on environmental protection and renewable energy.  We must get serious about developing a comprehensive energy plan for our state that relies less on oil, and encourages more use and development of clean and renewable energy sources.  There have been several attempts over the past few years at individual “green” proposals – ratifying the governor’s goal of having 20% of Florida’s energy supplied by renewable sources by 2020, providing economic incentives for private investment in clean/renewable energy, and setting state and local government recycling goals, to name a few.
 
In the coming months, as we head through election season and prepare for the 2011 Legislative Session, we must not let the lessons from the BP disaster fade from our memory, and we must translate what we have seen into public and political support to bring Florida’s energy policy into the 21st century.
 
As always, I welcome your comments and questions on any issue related to Florida government.  Please feel free to contact my office at (954) 747-7933 or by e-mail at rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov.

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	Senator Rich Addressing Seniors at the Daniel Canter Senior Center
	Nan Rich with Gradutes of Weston University
	Senator Rich with the Final Graduting Class of Weston University 2010

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