Time for Florida to tap Gulf energy resources

With 12.2 percent unemployment and energy costs rising, Florida needs help. The time has come to take control of our own energy and economic future. The less families and businesses have to spend on energy, the more they are free to spend on important things - their families, expanding businesses and creating new jobs.

As a Floridian concerned about the future of my state, as well as the incoming president of the Florida Senate, I am pleased that President Obama is now considering allowing access to new OCS (Outer Continental Shelf) areas for energy exploration. For too long, Floridians have dealt with indecision by Washington lawmakers and bureaucrats, and I sincerely hope this administration can commit to fact-based decision making on energy.

If the areas are leased, it will represent the most significant increases to domestic energy supplies in decades. The proposal is a good start to secure the vital energy resources our nation needs to free itself from reliance on foreign oil and offers us the opportunity to stop sending hundreds of billions of dollars each year to countries that don't like America. New technology will allow energy exploration opportunities off our shores with little environmental risk, a crucial factor for all Floridians.

For years most thought the Gulf of Mexico as a "Dead Sea" for energy supplies. Government data led us to believe in the 1980s that this area had "dried up." We now know that there is about five times more oil and gas available in the Gulf than these scientists thought a generation ago.

Additionally, with recent major breakthroughs in technology and ever-advancing tools for seismic imaging, developers can better predict where resources may be found; and because of improvements to production and safety technology - directional drilling, sub-sea tiebacks and shut-off valves below the sea floor - we can economically and safely produce energy once thought unattainable. The technology used by developers has proven safe for our environment, and we can use that to bring energy development to Florida.

Strong environmental protections are vital to Florida. Our beautiful beaches are critical for tourism and will remain a major force behind our economy as we move into the future. At the state level, we are investigating ways to accommodate rigs offshore that don't restrict our scenic views. All exploration and development in this area will be conducted with strict environmental standards to protect our natural resources.

In fact, when hurricanes Katrina and Rita traversed some of the highest density production facilities in the Gulf, Minerals Management Service and the Coast Guard concluded that from OCS facilities, there were no spill contacts to the shoreline, no oiling of marine mammals, birds or other wildlife, no large volumes of oil on the ocean surface to be collected or cleaned up and no identifiable environmental impacts from any OCS spills from the hurricanes.

Unfortunately, Florida has already missed out on some important opportunities to benefit from Gulf resources. I am disappointed that our U.S. Senate delegation didn't fight for Florida's inclusion in the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez failed to ensure that Florida was a part of this Gulf state revenue-sharing program. Clearly, this action was shortsighted and did not protect the interests of hardworking Floridians.

It is not too late for Florida to take advantage of our resources. Be it jobs for our citizens, investment dollars for future energy infrastructure or businesses catering to offshore development - let alone the taxes and royalties to Florida - opening the OCS brings opportunities now and for long-term prosperity. This investment will allow us to meet our budget needs, supporting vital services like education and health care, without raising taxes on our citizens.

Floridians deserve the best information possible to consider our options for controlling our energy future and for creating sorely needed jobs and economic growth.