TAMPA, Fla. – President Donald Trump signed the Massive Lovely Invoice into legislation final month that removes clean-energy incentives and will increase home fossil gasoline manufacturing.
As a part of the legislation, the administration is getting ready to broaden offshore drilling leases in federal waters.
What we all know:
Now, Florida lawmakers, together with Rep. Kathy Castor (D), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R), and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R), have launched the Florida Coastal Safety Act, a bipartisan invoice that may completely ban drilling inside 125 miles of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Why you must care:
Native enterprise leaders say offshore drilling threatens Florida’s economic system, surroundings, and even army coaching zones.
Courtesy: Tampa Bay Seashores Chamber of Commerce
The tourism trade, nonetheless recovering from final yr’s hurricane season, stays cautious of one other catastrophe just like the 2010 BP oil spill, which damage bookings regardless of restricted direct impression on Tampa Bay.
“We simply don’t assume the juice is definitely worth the squeeze,” mentioned Charlie Justice, CEO of the Tampa Bay Seashores Chamber, “This might be a nasty concept for Florida proper now.”
The backstory:
In January, former President Biden carried out a ban on offshore drilling as a part of his vitality coverage, citing potential “irreversible injury” to coastal areas.
President Trump reversed that stance on his first day again in workplace, declaring a nationwide “vitality emergency” and vowing to revive entry to 625 million acres of federal waters for oil and gasoline improvement.
What’s subsequent:
The Florida Coastal Safety Act will now transfer by Congress, nevertheless it faces opposition from the oil and gasoline trade, which calls the drilling ban “a significant assault” on home vitality manufacturing.
Courtesy: Tampa Bay Seashores Chamber of Commerce
If permitted, the invoice would lock in a everlasting barrier towards offshore drilling in Florida’s Gulf waters, one thing native leaders say is important for the state’s economic system and surroundings.
The Supply: This story relies on statements from President Trump, Inside Secretary Doug Burgum, Florida lawmakers and native enterprise leaders. Background info comes from FOX 13 Information interviews.
