Domestic production of oil only takes attention and resources away from the much needed goal of a new energy source, preferably a renewable one. To meet our energy needs in the short term, we can shift to Nuclear power while we develop the infrastructure needed to base our energy consumption on renewable sources.

People support oil drilling because they don’t believe they have realistic alternatives to oil. If we were talking about an abrupt switch to solar, hydro, geothermal and other renewable sources, they are correct — the infrastructure is not yet in place. That is why Nuclear, something that can be produced locally and create local jobs can fill the energy gap until the appropriate infrastructure is in place to sustain a renewable energy economy.

The transition to a clean-fuel economy won’t happen over night, and every barrel we don’t have to buy from someone that doesn’t like us is a good thing. The countries that we import oil from are not necessarily the most friendly to the USA, so let’s stop sending them our money ASAP and create good jobs locally by lifting government regulations on doing business.

Voters do not have to choose between a balanced budget and the environment- Slant drilling, as proposed for the Santa Barbara Channel, is much safer and cleaner than a traditional platform. It strikes the necessary balance between a robust economy that gives us resources to care for our fellow man and the need to preserve our precious environment, especially in an area as beautiful as the Central Coast (of which I’m a lifelong resident and avid recreational user of my Santa Barbara Channel).

I’d also like to point out that just because we lift a drilling ban and encourage additional local production doesn’t mean that we’ll be adding 10s or 100s of new platforms or facilities immediately along our coast. Additional development of production will only increase to the point that the market will bear, and given energy prices are still much lower than they were a year ago, the idea that we’ll all be living amongst a coastal oilfield wasteland is just silly.

Finally, I’d challenge you to support the notion that Californians don’t want to see additional exploration. While our Republican legislators are offering bills to help bring renewable energy and manufacturers to the state, which they should be doing to help California lead in the global green economy, some polls suggest that Californians are looking for a balanced approach. According to the Wall Street Journal: “A recent poll found that 61% of county residents support offshore drilling, compared with 51% statewide.”

So in conclusion, yes, let’s build a green economy. Nuclear power, renewable sources- build ourselves into a cleaner future for sure- but while we do so, remember that so much of what we do is oil-driven (think plastics, fertilizers, and many other non-fuel uses of petroleum). To completely close off the option to explore will only slow the transition to the green future we should all enjoy.