Nightline's Daily Line

drilling in the incredibly rough waters of maine is ignorant considering there is so much easier drilling to be done in the gulf coast

In my opinion "not in my backyard you don't" is unfortunately the greatest energy problem in the US today. This doesn't only affect drilling for oil. Even "green solutions" like windmills have been and are being vigorously fought against by otherwise ardent green activist camps in states like Delaware and Massachusetts. These states are afraid windmills will ruin their offshore aesthetics.
This evening you aired yet another "not in my backyard" story, this time in Maine. Offshore oil cannot be drilled there because ..."this is one area of the US where the offshore waters can be used to provide food."
The idea that seafood production and oil production cannot successfully coexist is a very dated concept.
"The abundance of fish and shrimp caught in Louisiana's waters makes seafood plentiful and inexpensive. Fisherman pull in more than 1.2 billion pounds annually or the nation's second largest seafood harvest outside Alaska." Included in this is that Louisiana is #1 both oyster and crawfish producer.
Additionally, 62% of the country's food import and export flow from the Port of New Orleans and other Louisiana ports. Supplying the nation's food needs is certainly a role that Louisiana strongly values and protects.
In contrasts, oil industrial figures show the relatively small state of Louisiana ranks 5 in crude oil production and 6 in natural gas production. Finally, is one of the leading importing and distribution sources for both commodities in the US with many of the nation's critical transmission lines traversing the state to carry these products to destinations every where.
What if Louisiana had the same "not in my backyard" attitude? Instead, the State continues to carry more than its fair share in both of these critical commodities quite successfully. Therefore, does Maine's slippery argument that its coastline should remain pristine in order to provide just seafood hold water?
In conclusion, I do not like spending exorbitant prices for fuel any more than the fisherman and homeowners in Maine. The rest of the country, including Maine, is going to have to come to grips with the idea that it needs to be part of a national energy solution. Thus, I tire of news pieces that float the mantra that citizens in other states are in a no-win situation - either forced to drill and give up their way of life or struggle to maintain their way of life as energy costs escalate as they shout from the rafters "not in my backyard you don't!"

In my opinion "not in my backyard you don't" is unfortunately the greatest energy problem in the US today. This doesn't only affect drilling for oil. Even "green solutions" like windmills have been and are being vigorously fought against by otherwise ardent green activist camps in states like Delaware and Massachusetts. These states are afraid windmills will ruin their offshore aesthetics.
This evening you aired yet another "not in my backyard" story, this time in Maine. Offshore oil cannot be drilled there because ..."this is one area of the US where the offshore waters can be used to provide food."
The idea that seafood production and oil production cannot successfully coexist is a very dated concept.
"The abundance of fish and shrimp caught in Louisiana's waters makes seafood plentiful and inexpensive. Fisherman pull in more than 1.2 billion pounds annually or the nation's second largest seafood harvest outside Alaska." Included in this is that Louisiana is #1 both oyster and crawfish producer.
Additionally, 62% of the country's food import and export flow from the Port of New Orleans and other Louisiana ports. Supplying the nation's food needs is certainly a role that Louisiana strongly values and protects.
In contrasts, oil industrial figures show the relatively small state of Louisiana ranks 5 in crude oil production and 6 in natural gas production. Finally, is one of the leading importing and distribution sources for both commodities in the US with many of the nation's critical transmission lines traversing the state to carry these products to destinations every where.
What if Louisiana had the same "not in my backyard" attitude? Instead, the State continues to carry more than its fair share in both of these critical commodities quite successfully. Therefore, does Maine's slippery argument that its coastline should remain pristine in order to provide just seafood hold water?
In conclusion, I do not like spending exorbitant prices for fuel any more than the fisherman and homeowners in Maine. The rest of the country, including Maine, is going to have to come to grips with the idea that it needs to be part of a national energy solution. Thus, I tire of news pieces that float the mantra that citizens in other states are in a no-win situation - either forced to drill and give up their way of life or struggle to maintain their way of life as energy costs escalate as they shout from the rafters "not in my backyard you don't!"

The place in the US the sun strikes first in the morning is not Maine, but Semisopochnoi Island in the Aleutians.

Geadeaux

The concept of drilling or not drilling is up to the States. If you are an old school Republican you must understand that concept. If you are not then you are ignorant of the constitution. BTW, which states do you live in? My guess it is not a coastal state so you don't care or have no appreciation for those of us who will do what it takes to protect or seashores. I have family that live in Louisiana and they don't go to the coastal areas anymore because the oil washes up on the beach daily. Remember one of our founding principles "Don't Tread On Me"