An email from Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M) re: Gulf oil
spill
posted
Jul 1, 2010 10:28 PM
Many New Mexicans have contacted me in recent
weeks regarding the Deepwater Horizon disaster. My thoughts are first with
the people on the front lines of this terrible situation —the families of those
who lost their lives in the explosion in April, and those who are working day
and night to protect the places and wildlife that sustain Gulf communities and
make the Gulf one of the most biologically diverse regions in the
world.
It is clear that prior to the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon
rig neither the companies involved nor the government adequately appreciated the
risks involved in a deepwater drilling operation of this type. The results of
that failure to properly assess risks have been disastrous. Since BP has
so far failed to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf, the extent of the further
environmental damage is not known.
Any efforts to repair the
damage done to the Gulf must be paid for by BP. It is clear
through preliminary analysis of the amount of oil flowing into the Gulf that it
may take years for the local economy to rebound, and possibly longer for the
ecosystem to recover. A disaster of this magnitude is inexcusable, and I
believe that changes in law must be made so that corporations that are
responsible for such devastation do not escape their responsibility because of
caps on liability that are too low.
As Chairman of the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, I also realize that regulated domestic oil
production conducted in an environmentally safe manner can play an important
role in meeting our nation's energy needs. I have ledseveral hearings to probe the
causes of this catastrophic accident, and am currently working on legislation to
identify and fix the weaknesses in our regulatory structure that may have
contributed to this disaster. I also visited Louisiana to see
the scope of the disaster with a bipartisan delegation of senators, and am
working closely with the administration to ensure that our response is adequate
and timely.
The Senate is also working on comprehensive legislation to
address climate change and energy independence. Toward that end, I
have introduced bipartisan legislation that would move our country toward
greater use of clean energy sources. The Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, which I chair, has already approved this
legislation and it is now ready for full Senate debate. It is my hope that
this legislation will become a core part of the energy debate.
The American Clean Energy Leadership
Act is an important step in developing renewable energy
infrastructure that will create more domestic energy and reduce our impact on
the environment. This legislation will:
· Accelerate the
introduction of new clean energy technologies in the United States,
· Create
new jobs and help businesses grow through clean energy project financing,
·
Include a renewable electricity standard,
· Provide for a robust and secure
national electricity transmission highway,
· Increase our energy
independence by increasing energy supplies, including new access to
over 20 trillion cubic feet of clean natural gas resources, and
·
Protect consumers by making energy markets more transparent and fair,
and by providing new tools to fight market manipulation.
I am hopeful
that this legislation will be debated and passed by Congress as soon as
possible.
As more impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster
continues to unfold, you can learn more about the Congress and the federal
government’s response on my website.
http://bingaman.senate.gov/about/
Sincerely,
Jeff
Bingaman
United States Senator
spill
posted
Jul 1, 2010 10:28 PM
Many New Mexicans have contacted me in recent
weeks regarding the Deepwater Horizon disaster. My thoughts are first with
the people on the front lines of this terrible situation —the families of those
who lost their lives in the explosion in April, and those who are working day
and night to protect the places and wildlife that sustain Gulf communities and
make the Gulf one of the most biologically diverse regions in the
world.
It is clear that prior to the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon
rig neither the companies involved nor the government adequately appreciated the
risks involved in a deepwater drilling operation of this type. The results of
that failure to properly assess risks have been disastrous. Since BP has
so far failed to stop the oil gushing into the Gulf, the extent of the further
environmental damage is not known.
Any efforts to repair the
damage done to the Gulf must be paid for by BP. It is clear
through preliminary analysis of the amount of oil flowing into the Gulf that it
may take years for the local economy to rebound, and possibly longer for the
ecosystem to recover. A disaster of this magnitude is inexcusable, and I
believe that changes in law must be made so that corporations that are
responsible for such devastation do not escape their responsibility because of
caps on liability that are too low.
As Chairman of the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, I also realize that regulated domestic oil
production conducted in an environmentally safe manner can play an important
role in meeting our nation's energy needs. I have ledseveral hearings to probe the
causes of this catastrophic accident, and am currently working on legislation to
identify and fix the weaknesses in our regulatory structure that may have
contributed to this disaster. I also visited Louisiana to see
the scope of the disaster with a bipartisan delegation of senators, and am
working closely with the administration to ensure that our response is adequate
and timely.
The Senate is also working on comprehensive legislation to
address climate change and energy independence. Toward that end, I
have introduced bipartisan legislation that would move our country toward
greater use of clean energy sources. The Senate Energy and
Natural Resources Committee, which I chair, has already approved this
legislation and it is now ready for full Senate debate. It is my hope that
this legislation will become a core part of the energy debate.
The American Clean Energy Leadership
Act is an important step in developing renewable energy
infrastructure that will create more domestic energy and reduce our impact on
the environment. This legislation will:
· Accelerate the
introduction of new clean energy technologies in the United States,
· Create
new jobs and help businesses grow through clean energy project financing,
·
Include a renewable electricity standard,
· Provide for a robust and secure
national electricity transmission highway,
· Increase our energy
independence by increasing energy supplies, including new access to
over 20 trillion cubic feet of clean natural gas resources, and
·
Protect consumers by making energy markets more transparent and fair,
and by providing new tools to fight market manipulation.
I am hopeful
that this legislation will be debated and passed by Congress as soon as
possible.
As more impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster
continues to unfold, you can learn more about the Congress and the federal
government’s response on my website.
http://bingaman.senate.gov/about/
Sincerely,
Jeff
Bingaman
United States Senator