Great job by Del. Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) and by everyone else who opposes opening up Virginia's coastline to offshore oil and gas drilling. Now, let's make sure we drive a stake through this one's heart, and also let's get some serious energy efficiency and renewable energy development going!
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran today announced success in protecting Virginia Beach?s coastline from offshore drilling which would harm tourism, increase global warming and damage Virginia Beach?s natural beauty. This week, Chairman Moran received a pledge of support for the offshore drilling moratorium from Congressman Norm Dicks, Chairman of the Interior subcommittee of Appropriations which controls the Atlantic Coast Drilling moratorium. Today, the full appropriations committee rejected efforts to remove the Moratorium by a vote of 25-39.
?I thank Congressman Dicks and members of the House who support protecting Virginia?s god-given natural beauty and maintaining the moratorium. We should first work to improve conservation measures and invest in 21st century renewable energy before offshore drilling for oil. Americans deserve cleaner, quicker, cheaper and safer energy sources,? said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran. ?Today is a great victory for the citizens of Virginia Beach and for the entire Commonwealth.?Congressman Dicks pledged to Delegate Moran that the moratorium ?should not be lifted for the Atlantic coast off Virginia Beach.? Congressman Dicks wrote to Chairman Moran thanking him for sharing the concerns about ?drilling off the Virginia coast and the potential harm it could do to the environment, tourism and the economy of your state.?
On Friday, May 25th, Chairman Moran joined the Mayor of Virginia Beach, a former Republican city councilman, and leadership of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club on the boardwalk to announce their joint opposition to offshore drilling and their support for continuation of the congressional moratorium.
The full appropriations committee rejected efforts to remove the Moratorium by a vote of 25-39.