Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statement following President Obama’s announcement to permit offshore drilling off the coast of Virginia:
This is good news and a positive step forward as we work to expand our nation’s domestic energy production. Moving forward on the mid-Atlantic off-shore proposal will provide an opportunity to determine the scope of our region’s off-shore energy resources, the economic viability of accessing those resources, and the potential impacts on our environmental and national security priorities.
The next important step is for Congress to approve a formula for sharing revenues between the federal and state government. I am continuing to work with my colleagues to come up with a proposal that is fair and equitable, and which could attract significant new investment and create good jobs in Virginia.
This is not a ‘silver bullet’ solution to our nation’s chronic energy challenges. But I have long advocated an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach that incorporates increased R&D into bio-fuels and other renewables, development of our nation’s off-shore oil, gas and wind resources, the expanded use of clean coal technology and nuclear energy, and increased conservation measures. This ‘portfolio’ approach will significantly boost our nation’s capacity for domestic energy production while strengthening our national security by reducing our over-reliance on imported oil.
