Philippe Cousteau, grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau and founder of Earth Echo, and Ted Danson, award-winning actor, longtime ocean advocate and Oceana board member, urged the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources to protect our oceans and climate from the threats of offshore drilling.

In their testimonies, they called on Congress to quickly reinstate the moratorium on offshore drilling, which was allowed to lapse in 2008 under Bush.

Philippe Cousteau urged Congress to reinstate the offshore drilling bans that until last fall had been in effect for 25 years in Atlantic and Pacific coastal waters.

“Oil and water simply don’t mix,” said Danson. “While not intentional, oil spills do happen and they harm everything from the smallest ocean organisms to the largest predators in the sea.”

“It’s absolutely critical for the health of the oceans. Oil spills still occur.” – Ocean Conservancy board member
Philippe Cousteau

Danson appealed to the Committee, led by Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), that the threats facing the Arctic Ocean will demand a separate and distinct planning process and that we should stop offshore oil and gas activities in the region until there is a comprehensive science-based conservation and energy plan.

Offshore oil drilling will have little if any impact on gas prices. Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Agency show that even at peak production, increased drilling offshore would produce less than one percent of the current energy demand in the U.S. “This is merely pennies at the gas pump,” said Danson.

He also stressed the importance of a speedy transition from fossil fuels to renewable, clean and carbon-free energy, such as offshore wind and solar power. According to recent estimates, the offshore wind industry could generate nearly $950 billion in economic activity and more than 250,000 jobs over the next 20 years.

“We need to work with the oceans, not against them,” said Dr. Michael Hirshfield, senior vice president for North America and chief scientist at Oceana. “The oceans can be a valuable resource in facing the global warming and energy crisis’.”

If you don’t want our beach views to look like this one day, now’s the time to do something about it.

This Thursday will be the first official opportunity to voice your opinion about drilling for oil and gas off the coast of South Carolina. The Natural Gas Exploration Feasibility Study Committee that was convened last year by the state legislature will be hosting a public hearing this week.

• When: Thursday, February 12th from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
• Where: Trident Tech Nursing Auditorium, 920 Building, 9000 Rivers Ave., N. Chas.

The offshore drilling industry poses significant threats to the health of our coastal ecosystems, the prosperity of our tourism based economy, and development of the alternative energy potential in our state. The potential benefits that would accompany drilling in the waters along South Carolina pale in comparison to the potential drawbacks.

Most Americans have heard the industry claims of lower gas prices, environmentally safe industry technologies, freedom from foreign oil dependencies, and the local economic boon that would accompany offshore drilling along the east coast. In reality, the facts paint a very different picture.

Offshore Drilling Talking Points

1. According to the US Department of Energy, drilling off the coast of South Carolina will not significantly lower oil or gas prices for consumers.
2. According to the US Department of Energy, drilling off the coast of South Carolina will not significantly reduce our dependency on foreign oil.
3. The multi-year permitting process to allow for offshore drilling in SC would distract our state leaders and agencies from working to expand our local renewable, sustainable energy alternatives.
4. The environmental degradation associated with the offshore drilling industry threatens to undermine our $15 billion per year tourism industry while despoiling the ecological integrity of our coast.
5. Onshore infrastructure like refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities would negatively impact air and water quality and the aesthetics of our coastal communities.
6. There are no studies that suggest this industry would bring further economic prosperity to this state, and our own SC Department of Commerce has concluded that any economic impact on jobs and capital investment would be insignificant.
7. The SC Energy Office has pointed out the enormous potential for this state to develop local, renewable forms of energy and this is where we should focus our attention.

Learn more about the recent environmental record of the offshore drilling industry, estimates of offshore oil and gas reserves, effects on consumer costs, and other impacts on our state economy from the Coastal Conservation League (CCL) – which is where I read all this information.