 |
McCain Says “Drill Away” |
 |
Yesterday McCain told reporters that he would end the federal moratorium (in place since 1981) on off-shore drilling and allow states to begin exploring for oil. From the WashPo:
“We must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil,” McCain told reporters yesterday. In a speech today, he plans to add that “we have untapped oil reserves of at least 21 billion barrels in the United States. But a broad federal moratorium stands in the way of energy exploration and production. . . . It is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions.”
First of all, about those “21 billion barrels.” Only about 4 billion are thought to be off-shore (mostly off the coast of Louisiana), with the other 16 billion mostly concentrated under Texas (which is busily pumping it) and Alaska (which is pumping some of it and protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge over the rest of it). As the Sierra Club notes off-shore drilling “is by far the slowest, dirtiest, most expensive way to meet our energy needs”; and will achieve virtually nothing to end our dependence on foreign oil or bring down gas prices. It will, however, exacerbate climate change, which McCain purports to be fighting.
All of this is why eight years ago, when McCain ran for president the first time, he opposed lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling. He acknowledged then that it was a bad idea, making his support of it now (like the gas-tax holiday) yet another feel-good gimmick in response to today’s unprecedented gas prices.
Grist also reports that in the same press conference yesterday McCain appeared to be confused about his own climate policy, denying (as he’s done several times) that it imposes any “mandatory” limits on carbon emissions (even though that’s exactly what it does):
QUESTION: The European Union has set mandatory targets on renewable energy. Is that something you would consider in a McCain administration? [...]
MCCAIN: Sure. I believe in the cap-and-trade system, as you know. I would not at this time make those — impose a mandatory cap at this time. But I do believe that we have to establish targets for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions over time, and I think those can be met.
Seems John-O is digging himself into quite the hole. (Also from the WashPo):
[In a Post-ABC poll, conducted Thursday through Sunday]…Obama held double-digit leads over McCain as the candidate more trusted to deal with gasoline prices and energy policy.
And, we won’t see any oil from new off-shore drilling for at least seven to ten years. In seven to ten years, I don’t even want to be talking about needing more fossil fuels. With real leadership, we could say, “More oil? What do weed that for?”
(and, an editorial nitpick: I don’t know when McCain first voiced opposition for off-shore drilling, but he first ran for president eight years ago, not four.)
My bad, Red Wind. Eight years ago is what I meant.
It will be critical over the next few months to be able to answer this question: “What are you doing about rising prices at the pump?” If prices continue to rise as they have been, this could become a huge election issue. And the solutions offered will need to address more than just the demand side of the equation. Punishing oil companies with profit windfall taxes to address Americans’ anger won’t bring down prices. Nationalizing refineries won’t either. The pressure is going to boil over, and not offering supply-side solutions may result in a serious Achilles heal at a time when the Dems should sweep.