'Hot Air'
Folks across the Commonwealth are beginning to see through our opponent’s claims that increased domestic oil drilling will magically solve our energy crisis. From newspaper editorial boards to a legendary Texas oilman who made his fortune in oil, an increasing number of people recognize that “drill here/drill now” is not a real solution.
Increasing our domestic production of oil and gas is simply one tool among many that could help address America’s long-term reliance on foreign oil. Governor Warner supports allowing exploration for oil and gas offshore, but he recognizes that’s only one part of a broader plan that includes cracking-down on oil speculators, promoting telecommuting and conservation, and aggressively pursuing development of clean, renewable energy sources—like wind, solar, biofuels, clean coal and nuclear.
This morning, two significant Virginia editorial pages sharply criticized our opponent’s simplistic “drill here/drill now” strategy:
The Bristol Herald Courier wrote:
No serious thinker, outside of partisan political circles, believes this is the case. Even the government’s own reports indicate that drilling in ANWR will have minimal impact on gasoline prices. Increased offshore oil production could have a greater effect on prices, but it won’t be immediate, according to the Department of Energy.
The Roanoke Times also weighed in:
He also knows that it’s a matter of supply and demand. So instead of understanding the complexities of dwindling oil supplies and quickly rising global demand, then working on ways to reduce U.S. demand, candidate Drillmore frames it this way: Pump more oil. ... Even if Drillmore hoodwinks voters into sending him to the Senate, and even if he finds enough like-minded members of Congress and a president to agree with his scheme, and even if oil companies set right to work exploring offshore and draining ANWR, prices at the pump are not going to budge.
To see more facts about how domestic drilling for oil will not solve our energy challenges, check out our fact check section.