Letter to Congressman Boyd

This is a letter that I will be sending to Congressman Boyd. Feel free to copy and put in your own words to let him know that you support offshore drilling. Here is his mailing address:

30 W. Government St.
Suite 203
Panama City, FL 32401

Dear Congressman Boyd,
As an active voting resident in your area, I urge you to allow for offshore drilling off the coast of Florida… both of them. Congress has restricted offshore exploration along 85% of the Outer Continental Shelf since 1982. The White House has affirmed the restrictions through an executive order that was signed by President George H. W. Bush and then extended by President Clinton through 2012. Current domestic oil production averages about 5 million barrels per day and is projected to reach 5.3 million barrels per day in 2009. America’s consumption of is about 20.7 million barrels per day and growing.As a result, we import more than 60% of our crude oil. However, relying on foreign sources transfers large sums of money to often hostile regions and can have a disastrous effect on our economy.Past oil price shocks and price manipulations by OPEC have cost the U.S. economy $7 trillion between 1979 and 2000. Each price shock has resulted in a recession. By opening up the vast federal land and offshore locations to drilling, America will be able to take one step closer to energy independence and strengthen its national security.As Florida residents we need this now!Any announcements of a shift in the current oil policy will cause a reaction from oil speculators.Since an increase in domestic oil production will lead to an increase in future oil supplies, traders will bid down futures contracts which will in turn lower current spot prices.Moreover, the existence of a lag time between opening an area to oil development and oil production reaching the market should not be used as an excuse for perpetual inaction.The situation will only be worse in the future if we fail to act.I care for the environment just as much as any other Florida resident does.But much of the environmental hysteria is just hype.Between 1985 to 2001, offshore operators produced 7 billion barrels and had a spill rate of only .001%.Even after the Gulf was hammered by both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there were no major oil spills from offshore production, and the very minor spills released only 17,000 barrels.That small amount is less oil than what naturally seeps into the Gulf every two weeks.
These spills were so insignificant that no environmental consequences occurred as a result. This is because we have developed technologies that allow us to produce oil in an environmentally safe and sound manner.Furthermore, American environmental standards are far more rigorous than any of its kind in the world. Any exploration of the OCS performed will be under these environmental standards and be done in the most environmentally safe manner as possible. Please Mr. Boyd, I urge you to reconsider your stance on offshore drilling.Florida families simply can’t afford these high gas prices anymore.We need both action and leadership on behalf of our legislators to untie these chains that bind us.Will you be such a leader?
Sincerely,

Eric Wall,
Panama City, Florida