Governor opposed oil and gas leasing in federal waters off Delaware, or elsewhere in Atlantic

WILMINGTON, Del. – In a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Governor John Carney opposed drilling for oil and gas in federal waters off the coast of Delaware, or elsewhere in the Atlantic. President Trump in April issued an executive order to review restrictions on offshore drilling imposed by the Obama Administration. The following are excerpts from Governor Carney’s letter last week to Secretary Zinke:

“Delawareans rely upon and enjoy our abundant coastal resources. Over 60,000 jobs directly or indirectly support the fishing, tourism and recreation sectors. Coast-related activities contribute almost $7 billion in economic production to the state. According to a 2012 analysis performed by the Delaware Sea Grant, more than 10 percent of the state’s total employment, taxes and production value can be attributed to coastal related activities. Preserving the coastal environment is essential to Delaware’s economic well-being, as well as vital to maintaining a high quality of life for its residents. The majority of coastal residents perceive offshore oil and gas exploration as a threat to their communities and livelihoods.”

“We as a nation share the responsibility to ensure that energy decisions do not exacerbate the problems associated with climate change that are already being witnessed. The State of Delaware stands firm in its commitment to alternative energy development, and has prioritized working with neighboring states to develop a comprehensive strategy that will maximize the environmental and economic development benefits of adopting renewable energy. As such, I am opposed to any oil and gas leasing in federal waters offshore of Delaware, or elsewhere in the Atlantic.”

Download Governor Carney’s letter to Secretary Zinke here.

###

Related news:
Governor Carney’s Statement on President Trump’s Order to Review Offshore Drilling Restrictions

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order that would review offshore drilling restrictions put in place by the Obama Administration:

“President Trump’s order is disappointing, and would reverse important restrictions put in place by the Obama Administration,” said Governor Carney. “Delaware does not support any exploration or extraction of fossil fuels from the Atlantic Ocean. To risk our coastal economy and natural resources on offshore drilling for oil and gas would also imperil our state’s environmental and economic health. A new fossil fuel industry on the Atlantic Coast would trigger a cascading of secondary impacts and increased carbon emissions. It would require a vast network of pipelines, increased barge and tanker traffic, and associated industrial development in sensitive coastal areas, including construction of new refineries with supporting infrastructure and increased truck and rail shipments. Delaware’s coastal resources directly or indirectly support some 60,000 jobs and almost $7 billion in economic production from tourism to industry to commercial fishing. We should be investing in our beaches and our parks, and taking steps to protect our coastline from the impacts of climate change, not taking these kinds of unnecessary risks.”

###