Steven Holt: “The Department of the Interior recently began the process of developing an offshore oil and gas leasing program for 2017…”

“The Department of the Interior recently began the process of developing an offshore oil and gas leasing program for 2017 to 2022. However, the development of a 5-year program isn't simply about which areas should be leased and drilled and which should not. It is about whether drilling in new offshore fields is the way of the future. As a member of the Safe Climate Caucus, I am here to ask: How will we address the imminent and multiple threats of climate change resulting from our overdependence on carbon fossil fuels? We could double down or triple or quadruple down on the energy sources of the last two centuries, or we could take steps to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and have a sustainable energy future. The last few years have seen tremendous progress in harvesting the renewable energy potential of our oceans. We should oppose the unwise expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing and drilling. ____________________”