The growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may cause the Obama administration to rethink its strategy for promoting a climate change bill in the Senate.
President Obama recently lifted a ban on offshore oil drilling in areas off the Atlantic and Florida Gulf coasts, and Democrats were prepared to trade expanded offshore dilling rights (and support for the nuclear industry) in order to gain Republican support for a renewable energy standard (RES) and caps on carbon emissions.
But Obama said no new drilling will be approved until it is determined what caused the explosion and subsequent spill at BP’s (NYSE: BP) Deepwater Horizon platform. Some reports are suggesting the magnitude of the spill could top that of the Exxon Valdez disaster by the time a new well can be drilled to relieve pressure and stop the leaking oil.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the spill could change the president’s point of view on offering expanded drilling to push a climate bill in the Senate.
But ultimately, states have the authority to decide if they want to allow drilling off their coasts, and a major accident like this–in the Gulf region which has already suffered so much–is sure to stay fresh in the minds of coastal residents in Florida and along the Atlantic for at least a decade.
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