| Um, I wonder if people realize how the rules concerning energy development have changed. Here in CT we have seen "the future of energy" and it's not "what was." Electricity and natural gas pass through CT to NY, where residents there pay LESS than CT residents do. The gas pipeline was installed over CT objections, and in violation of CT law. None of that mattered, since energy regulation is now a federal perogative. Recently, a foreign corporation proposed a floating natural gas island sited in a recreational area that CT has spent billions to develop. One provision was that this recreational area would be off limits to CT residents so that the island would be "secure." CT has no authority to prohibit this.
So yes, by all means lobby the federal govenment to drill offshore. But don't do it with the assurance that Florida will reap the same benefits that oil production has provided Alaska and Texas. Your destiny might be that of LA, AL and MS, none of which benefit significantly from Gulf oil and gas production. BTW, is there any reason to believe that offshore production won't be sold to the highest bidders? By now you might be wondering "well what's in it for us?" Yes, exactly. |