Senate President Atwater Announced Thorough Study of Offshore Drilling
Nov 9, 2009
Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater has consistently questioned whether new offshore drilling made sense for Florida's future and has publicly stated that drilling was not on his list of priorities for the 2010 session.
Today, he issued a press release announcing that he has directed the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee to conduct a "detailed and comprehensive review of the implications of offshore drilling."
The release included the detailed analytical methodology that would be used and named the two partner organizations that would be assisting in the study, the Florida State University Institute for Energy Systems, Economics, and Sustainability and the Century Commission.
The stated goal of the study is to provide "a comprehensive, balanced and unimpeachable analysis of the myriad issues encompassed by offshore drilling" and will offer "accurate information that is not skewed by personal or political opinion."
While the study may be ready in time for use during the 2010 session that will begin in March, no deadlines were placed on its completion. Instead, Atwater promised that the "analysis will be driven by the need for a dispassionate review, not timelines or schedules."
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Thank You For Your Leadership, Senator Atwater
Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater announced that he recognizes that new offshore drilling has "serious ramifications" and the Senate will conduct a "thorough and comprehensive review of the implications." Sign on to this letter thanking him for showing thoughtful leadership on this issue, and let him know we'll be watching to make sure he keeps his promise! Click here to sign the letter.