Carteret County Wants Offshore Drilling Discussion

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Posted: 11:00 AM Aug 21, 2008
Last Updated: 9:18 PM Aug 21, 2008

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Commissioners in a coastal North Carolina county say they want state and federal representatives to support offshore exploration for oil and natural gas.

The Daily News of Jacksonville reported Thursday that the Carteret County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution asking representatives to "support the exploration of oil and gas off the outer continental shelf."

Commissioner Greg Lewis sponsored the resolution that passed on a 7-2 vote. Lewis said offshore drilling would help the economy throughout eastern North Carolina because of drilling royalties and support business.

Some speakers expressed concerns about exploration during a public comment period. Others said the technology exists to drill safely.

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Posted by: Joe Stroud Location: morehead city on Aug 23, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Kudos to my neighbor Greg Lewis. We have to do what is needed to solve our energy crisis. The recent drop in fuel will not last. We need to drill,build nuclear plants,solar,wind etc. The only problem is a small but well organized group of tree huggers that will never let us do this.One of our candidates for governor is opposed to drilling and she is most definelty controlled by the left wing tree huggers.

Posted by: GEOLOGIST Location: OVERSEAS on Aug 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I question Drum Man's numbers until we test drill. It's funny nobody even mentioned the amount of Natural Gas we could find.

Posted by: Obama Snake Oil co Location: Washington on Aug 23, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Obviously Red State, there are some stupid people out there that believe "yes I can". They would even vote for this guy who will destroy our economy. Drill like a banshee....we need to be doing what we shold have done years ago but Carter took care of that. Carter=Obama

Posted by: WOLFGANG Location: CHOCOWINITY on Aug 22, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Since there is OIL off the East Coast Of The USA. Lets get it before the British and the Chinese do. So they can not sell it back to us in inflated prices. DRILL NOW!!

Posted by: Red State Location: Washington Co. on Aug 22, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Yes We Can - No I can't... let you get away with that one. Actually, what Obama said was that keeping your tires properly inflated would prevent the need for drilling. He didn't just say it was a good idea, which is obvious. He said that more air in our tires could replace the oil we could get from drilling. Besides, why does he assume that Americans are all a bunch of morons driving around on flat tires? We have sense enough to decide for ourselves when put air in our tires, drive or not to drive, or even when we need a jackrabbit start. In other words, we don't need the government running a driving school, we need them honestly working on allowing successful comanies and good old American innovation to solve the shortage of domestic energy output we have in this country. China is drilling off the coast of Florida via Cuba. Do you think they will do it cleaner or safer than the US?

Posted by: me on Aug 22, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Yea, I've been looking for my Barack Obama tire pressure gauge so I can start saving tons on gas, but I haven't found out yet.... Maybe he has to be elected first LOL.

Posted by: Drum Man Location: Swansboro on Aug 22, 2008 at 12:31 PM
According to the best estimates from the feds and the oil companies, there might be 3.8 billion barrels of economically recoverable oil off the East Coast. At the current consumption rate in the U.S. of 20 million barrels a day, that's less than a 200-day supply. Add to that the 8 to 10 years it would take before any of the resulting gasoline makes it to the pump. All of which adds up to one conclusion: This is a canard drummed up to garner votes during an election year.

Posted by: Yes We Can! on Aug 22, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Snake- Obama didn't say that the problem was the air in your tires. Obama was reminding people that gas is more efficient when your tires are properly inflated. It's kind of like telling people to check the batteries in their fire detectors..which reminds me. I need to go do that.

Posted by: Obama Snake Oil Co Location: Washington on Aug 22, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Joe, I will bet that both vote againsts were democrat since it is their "agenda". You heard Pelosi say she wanted to save the planet before they took recess (a time children go play). The do not care about your household, just environmental agenda they get money for. Pelosi and her followers have no regard for price at the pump. They are millionaires that don't have to go to the pump an put their own gas in to see what it costs. Its insignifigant money to her. Don't forget, Obama says the problem is you airpressure in your cars needs to be checked. Wow, how out of touch is that. Well, the pressure I have is not air, its blood.

Posted by: SBK Location: Beaufort County on Aug 22, 2008 at 08:02 AM
We'd better drill if want the U.S.A. to be around for our kids and grandkids. At the same time a massive effort at developing alternate energy sources should be initiated. The oil isn't going to last forever. Alternate sources such as wind, solar, hydrogen, etc are there right now, we just haven't made the time and effort to learn how to tap them. America has to be totally independent from other countries for our energy supplies. Drilling won't solve the problem in the long term but it will give us some breathing room and time to develop other sources. We also should be working on ways to economically extract oil form oil shale and drilling in ANWAR. Our children and their children will suffer if we don't become an energy independent nation.

Posted by: Mac on Aug 21, 2008 at 09:42 PM
It can not be any worst than the enviromental impact that PCS has done to this state, and the wage cap that large companies has in this area.

Posted by: Don Location: Elizabeth City on Aug 21, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Originally from Texas Gulf coast grew up swimming in the waters of the gulf, and could see the oil rigs out in the water. Never saw any evidence of problems or was there any noise from them. That was years ago and todays advancements in the drilling process is much safer, and its time we showed the rest of the world we can do without their oil. Its also time NC, woke up and lets new industry in, employ the people that live here in jobs that pay and will help support our state.

Posted by: Deborah Caufield Location: washington on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:29 PM
no offshore drilling north carolina

Posted by: JD Location: Eastern NC on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:33 PM
It is a known fact that the U.S. is far behind other nations when it comes to oil/energy policies, such as the E.U., Russia, China etc. Mainly due to the indecisiveness of our government representatives. The oil industry has improved their environmental policies in recent years in order to prevent accidents and have proper contingency plans to deal with accidents. If drilling did occur offshore North Carolina, it has the potential to provide many employment opportunities for Eastern North Carolina residents. If we decide to continue our present stance on oil exploration, then we need to quit complaining about the price of oil.

Posted by: Mike on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:20 PM
All i can say is go for it.Im from louisiana origanally and there is good money in the oil fields.And its not like there gonna put them on the beach.They will far enough off the coast that we will never see them.

Posted by: Fred schnibben , public gdn. on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:08 PM
drill! could not find the vote...

Posted by: JL Location: New Bern on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:02 PM
I agree! As soon as we put the word out that we are going to start drilling, you will see gas prices drop because they are based on future prices. Drill on!!! and sooner than later!!

Posted by: Christine Location: chocowinity on Aug 21, 2008 at 03:38 PM
wow this is a great story

Posted by: Joe Location: Kinston on Aug 21, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Who were the two who voted against it? I would like to know.

Posted by: Thank You! Location: Chocowinity on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Thank you! It is about time! Drill on!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Devil Dog Location: New Bern on Aug 21, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Let's see...We get oil from Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. If that doesn't tell you something nothing will. Drill now!

Posted by: zach Location: Jacksonville on Aug 21, 2008 at 11:09 AM
The people don't care about the concerns. It has been proven that this can be done safely. Let's do this already and start helping all of us out. SHUT UP AND DRILL!!!!!

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