Posted: May 28, 2010

Protecting the livelihood of Floridians and our beautiful and delicate environment should be a top priority for every public servant, which is why I’ve been so opposed to oil drilling in Florida’s territorial waters, less than 12 miles off our coast. As we’ve now learned, the risks far outweigh the rewards, and despite their prior testimony to the Florida House, the big oil companies are simply not prepared to respond to a crisis.

In May, I drafted legislation constitutionally banning nearshore drilling and urged the governor to bring the Legislature back to Tallahassee so that we can place such language on November’s ballot. While the nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico has served to shine a light on a host of problems facing both the oil industry and governmental agencies, it was not the impetus for my involvement. Since early 2009, I have worked to stop plans for nearshore drilling, and since being elected to public office I have supported policies promoting the development of renewable energy resources. This past session I filed legislation ratifying the rules on renewable portfolio standards adopted by the Public Service Commission. These rules include aggressive standards of 20 percent renewable energy production by 2020 and protected utility customers from excessive rate increases.

It’s important that Florida, and the rest of America, end its reliance on foreign oil. Doing so will have positive national security implications. However, we will not accomplish this goal by embracing fossil fuels and utilizing such 19th-century technology in our own backyard. Florida is the largest and most populated state in the country without a renewable portfolio standard. If we’re serious about getting people back to work, building a new economic engine, and doing something positive for future generations of Floridians, this must change.