Guest commentary: Oppose new federal drilling plan
The Federal Administration’s Department of the Interior recently released the “Unleashing American Offshore Energy” plan that would open Florida’s waters to oil and gas drilling closer to Florida’s coasts than ever before.
Many of Florida’s elected leaders, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and our federal and state representatives, have issued strong objections to this plan, including proposing legislation to pass a drilling moratorium in federal waters off of Florida’s coast.
On Nov. 24, the Department of the Interior opened the plan for a 60-day public comment period. Please join the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) in opposing this misguided federal plan to drill in currently protected areas of Florida’s waters.
TALKING POINTS
– The devastation of a potential spill off of Florida’s coast could wreak havoc on our ecosystems, tourism-based economies and quality of life.
– Accidents can and do happen! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responds to more than 150 oil spills every year. In 2010, the deadly Deepwater Horizon spill resulted in over 3.19 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf, with fishing industry losses of $8.7 billion and countless marine animals killed.
– Though a portion of the oil was recovered, millions of gallons remain at sea while we are yet to fully understand the impacts of this massive disaster on our country.
– Global renewable energy production surpassed coal and gas for the first time this year. Technology and innovation for clean energy alternatives is growing worldwide. Drilling off of Florida is not worth the risk.
– Expansion of drilling leases to areas currently protected will impact areas of strategic military importance and are incompatible with existing critical military training and testing exercises in the area.
– 77% of offshore oil leased acres are not producing, making these new leases unnecessary.
– Gulf loop currents could bring any oil spills directly to the coastlines of Southwest Florida, where tourism accounts for $3.5 billion annually in Lee County alone.
Act now by visiting https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2025-0483-0001 to leave your comments opposing any new areas off of Florida’s coast to be opened to oil and gas leasing, exploration and drilling.
Founded in 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. For more information, visit sccf.org.