I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., commended Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar for the drilling proposal that would allow offshore drilling along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska. Bingaman is the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
“I commend Secretary Salazar for proposing a plan that makes available for leasing much of the potential offshore oil and gas resources that the Federal government owns,” Bingaman said in a statement. “I also commend him for indicating that additional studies will be undertaken before making a final decision on leasing in areas that might be environmentally sensitive.”
“I want to emphasize that this announcement is part of a broader strategy that will move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies on homegrown fuels and clean energy. And the only way this transition will succeed is if it strengthens our economy in the short term and the long term. To fail to recognize this reality would be a mistake,” said President Barack Obama, according to a release by the White House.
Offshore drilling has long been controversial, especially among environmentalists.
As The New York Times reported today, at least one environmental group isn’t happy:
But Jacqueline Savitz of the environmental group Oceana countered on Wednesday: “We’re appalled that the president is unleashing a wholesale assault on the oceans. Expanding offshore drilling is the wrong move if the Obama administration is serious about improving energy security, creating lasting jobs and averting climate change.”
Bingaman’s statement, however, said the proposal doesn’t include anything new.
“Secretary Salazar’s proposed plan is generally consistent with the legislative proposals regarding our offshore national oil and gas resources that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee reported last summer,” said Bingaman. “I hope that the Senate will address these legislative proposals in the coming weeks.”
