Corker: Offshore Oil Production Should Be a Bridge to the Future While We Invest in Alternative Energy Technology

Press Release

Corker: Offshore Oil Production Should Be a Bridge to the Future While We Invest in Alternative Energy Technology

U.S. Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said today that "environmentally friendly offshore oil exploration and production should be a bridge to the future while we are making investments in alternative energy technology."

Earlier today, President Bush held a news conference encouraging Congress to pass legislation ending the ban on offshore oil drilling in the United States. Corker supports lifting the ban and believes states should have the right to pursue environmentally friendly offshore drilling if they choose.

"Offshore oil drilling is not the only solution to our energy needs, nor should it be our primary long-term solution, but freeing up domestic oil production in the U.S. will send an important signal to the markets and should be part of our efforts to move our country toward energy security," said Corker, adding, "I am sincerely anxious for the day, hopefully in our near future, when most Americans will be driving vehicles powered by electricity and other non-petroleum based technologies, but while we're getting there does it not make sense to use our own oil reserves rather than shipping billions and trillions of dollars overseas to countries that would do us harm?

"Increasing our country's energy security will require a balanced approach that includes ALL available technologies: the continued development of alternative fuels, nuclear power and renewables such as solar and wind; investment in research and technology; the expansion of our refinery capacity to include biorefineries and coal-to-liquid facilities; oil shale production; conservation of our resources; AND enhancing oil and gas production in an environmentally friendly way."

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