Lynn C. Woolsey: “those who support this amendment should really look at solving the current energy crisis. If they wanted to, they would…”

“those who support this amendment should really look at solving the current energy crisis. If they wanted to, they would invest in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency and conservation. For example, providing tax incentives for the construction of energy efficient buildings and manufacturing energy efficient heating and water heating equipment could save 300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas over 50 years. This is more than 12 times the Department of Interior's mean estimate of economically recoverable gas outside the central and western Gulf of Mexico. So why are we here today discussing offshore oil drilling instead of promoting efficient and renewable energy sources? It could be that we are pandering to big oil companies. We not only have to worry about oil spills from offshore oil rigs, we also have to worry about the damaging way that they drill for oil and natural gas. An average of 180,000 gallons per well of drilling muds that are used to lubricate drill bits and maintain downhole pressure are dumped untreated back into the surrounding waters. Water brought up from a well along with oil and gas typically contains a variety of toxic pollutants. I will vote against this amendment. I consider it dangerous and it is absolutely no solution to our gas and energy shortage.”