Offshore Drilling Legislation Filed in Senate
Offshore Drilling Legislation Filed in Senate
On Friday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m., State Senator Mike Haridopolous filed Senate Bill 2622, which would provide for “the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to accept and award for oil and gas leases on submerged lands underlying the territorial waters of the state.” – in other words, to allow near shore drilling. This bill is very similar to House Bill 1219 filed the last day of session in 2009. As of today, March 1, there has been no bill filed in the Florida House, but we do expect one this week, maybe as early as Tuesday. Click here to read SB 2622.
To my knowledge, at least nine chambers in Northwest Florida have passed resolutions against near shore drilling. I also know that other chambers across the state of Florida have passed resolutions as well. The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors passed two resolutions opposing drilling – one in near shore state waters, the other in federal waters up to 40 miles.
There is a promise of jobs and revenue for the state; however, the sacrifice of the military operations and tourism revenue in our area far outweigh any of the jobs or revenue oil drilling will create. Estimates we’ve heard are two to three billion dollars from oil. When compared to the estimated $5 billion and 19,000 jobs from the military missions alone, just in our community, the numbers don’t add up. It’s even more astonishing when compared to numbers from across the entire state - $60 billion in tourism and $60 billion in military operations.
If near shore drilling is permitted in the state of Florida, our community will suffer irreparable harm. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please email and/or call our senators, representatives, and Governor Crist to express your opposition to offshore drilling in both state and federal waters up to 40 miles out. Contact information is below.
Tell them you side with the chambers of commerce in Northwest Florida who oppose drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Tell them the risk to military operations and tourism dollars, as well the protection of our beautiful beaches and coastal waters, is not worth the small amount of revenue expected from oil drilling. Tell them that studies show that less than one-week’s worth of oil is in the Gulf and would not have a discernable effect of prices at the gas pump.
Remember, this IS an election year!
Thank you. Together, we will build this world-class community one business at a time!
Shane Moody, IOM, CCE
Chamber President and CEO
Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
(850) 488-7146
Senator Mike Haridopolous
haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5056
Senator Don Gaetz
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5009
Speaker Larry Cretul
larry.cretul@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 488-1450
Representative Dean Cannon
dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 488-27425
Representative Marti Coley
marti.coley@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 488-2873
On Friday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m., State Senator Mike Haridopolous filed Senate Bill 2622, which would provide for “the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund to accept and award for oil and gas leases on submerged lands underlying the territorial waters of the state.” – in other words, to allow near shore drilling. This bill is very similar to House Bill 1219 filed the last day of session in 2009. As of today, March 1, there has been no bill filed in the Florida House, but we do expect one this week, maybe as early as Tuesday. Click here to read SB 2622.
To my knowledge, at least nine chambers in Northwest Florida have passed resolutions against near shore drilling. I also know that other chambers across the state of Florida have passed resolutions as well. The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors passed two resolutions opposing drilling – one in near shore state waters, the other in federal waters up to 40 miles.
There is a promise of jobs and revenue for the state; however, the sacrifice of the military operations and tourism revenue in our area far outweigh any of the jobs or revenue oil drilling will create. Estimates we’ve heard are two to three billion dollars from oil. When compared to the estimated $5 billion and 19,000 jobs from the military missions alone, just in our community, the numbers don’t add up. It’s even more astonishing when compared to numbers from across the entire state - $60 billion in tourism and $60 billion in military operations.
If near shore drilling is permitted in the state of Florida, our community will suffer irreparable harm. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please email and/or call our senators, representatives, and Governor Crist to express your opposition to offshore drilling in both state and federal waters up to 40 miles out. Contact information is below.
Tell them you side with the chambers of commerce in Northwest Florida who oppose drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Tell them the risk to military operations and tourism dollars, as well the protection of our beautiful beaches and coastal waters, is not worth the small amount of revenue expected from oil drilling. Tell them that studies show that less than one-week’s worth of oil is in the Gulf and would not have a discernable effect of prices at the gas pump.
Remember, this IS an election year!
Thank you. Together, we will build this world-class community one business at a time!
Shane Moody, IOM, CCE
Chamber President and CEO
Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
(850) 488-7146
Senator Mike Haridopolous
haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5056
Senator Don Gaetz
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov
(850) 487-5009
Speaker Larry Cretul
larry.cretul@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 488-1450
Representative Dean Cannon
dean.cannon@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 488-27425
Representative Marti Coley
marti.coley@myfloridahouse.gov
(850) 488-2873
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