Offshore drilling is acceptable but not the "silver bullet"
GILMORE: [to Warner]: The difference between Mark Warner and myself rests with the part of the energy plan that will help people immediately. And that means we have to have more domestic oil production and free ourselves from the people overseas.
We have to be prepared to drill in ANWR. We have to be prepared to drill offshore. And oil prices will go down if the US has a decisive energy policy.
WARNER: My position is that Congress should lift the moratorium on offshore drilling and leave that
decision to the states. I don't believe we should be drilling in ANWR. Because Congress set it aside as a pristine area and similar to Senator McCain's position, I see the dangers. But where I disagree with Jim is that this is somehow the silver bullet.
America has 3% of the world's oil and we use 25% of the world's oil. Drilling alone isn't going to solve the whole problem. Investing in alternative energy is going to provide more immediate relief.
Vetoed offshore drilling ban until more laws & facts known
RHETORIC: Gilmore: "You said in your veto that you would not in fact exercise that state authority to begin to explore for oil back in 2005."
REALITY: Governor Warner's veto message on the 2005 offshore drilling ban called on the state to
monitor "federal developments on domestic energy production," as part of a larger state study. Warner vetoed the bill because it encroached on the role of the Governor to direct the activities of the Virginia Liaison Office and directed the
Commonwealth to advocate for federal legislation that has yet to be introduced. [Warner Veto Message, 3/29/05]
In January 2006, a study prepared for Governor Warner and state legislators "recommended that Virginia allow offshore exploration for natural
gas and oil deposits but take precautions to protect the environment." The study "suggested that drilling take place at least 50 miles from the coast and that no pipelines or other equipment be placed ashore." [Washington Post, 4/6/06]
Drastically reduced emissions from VA coal power plants
Coal-fired power plants are among the largest emitters of air pollutants in the country--pollutants that cause acid rain and harm human health. June 2003, the Warner administration, along with the federal EPA and four other states entered into
a settlement with Dominion Resources, the state's largest electric utility, requiring Dominion to drastically reduce emissions from its power plants. At the time, it represented the largest settlement in the history of the Clean Air Act.
Source: Campaign website, www.markwarner2008.com, "Issues"
Mar 9, 2008
