We Cannot Drill Or Mine Our Way To Energy Security

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont issued the following statement today, the clearest statement yet on the need to transform our energy infrastructure for the 21st Century.

"The unfolding disaster of the sinking and leaking of a drilling platform off the Louisiana coast, together with the recent tragedies at coal mines in West Virginia, remind us of some of the high human, environmental and economic costs associated with the extraction of fossil fuels. These incidents are all the more troubling because the evidence is clear that we cannot drill or mine our way to long-term energy security.

"Many workers have lost their lives and their families have lost loved ones and breadwinners. In the Gulf right now we have delicate ocean and coastal ecosystems at risk, as well as wildlife and fishery populations and the livelihoods of communities in several states. This accident may be the worst environmental disaster in recent years and brings into question the many claims about safety and advanced technology in the industry.

"This is a disaster for all concerned and especially for the people of the Gulf Coast. It should also be a learning experience. I strongly support the hearings that are being organized in the Senate and the House, and I hope there will be further significant inquiries as the situation develops.

"We need to adopt a comprehensive energy strategy that addresses the challenges of the 21st Century and does not simply rely on the energy sources of the past. We need to be more creative and in ways that strengthen our economy, our security and our environment. Our long-term energy security depends on promoting energy efficiency and supporting domestic sources of clean, renewable power such as biomass, solar, and wind energy. Instead of focusing so much on securing more fossil fuels, it is crucial that we address our dependence on oil, invest in renewable energy, and offer incentives for utility companies and others to use these clean, domestic forms of energy."

Source: Office of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Massive Oil Spill? Send In The Lawyers??

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that he is dispatching a team of lawyers from multiple divisions within the Justice Department to New Orleans to meet with the U.S. Attorney and response teams and to monitor the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Not to be outdone, a law firm in Alabama, Beasley Allen has already filed a class action lawsuit against British Petroleum ("BP") and other companies with ties to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

And of course both the Attorney General and the plaintiffs' law firm immediately issued press releases announcing their heroic efforts.

This, sadly, is the state of America today. We are facing the worst oil spill since the Exxon Valdiz, and probably much worse in terms of environmental harm. Where we once would shout out "Send in the Marines!" or "Send in the Engineers!", today our call to arms is "Send in the Lawyers!" (The investment bankers will not be far behind, as soon as they can figure out how to profit from all sides of whatever transactions they can put together.)

Exactly what will all these lawyers be doing to address the environmental catastrophe on the Louisiana coast?

The Beasley Allen firm says that it seeks to represent individuals and businesses that have incurred damages related to the disaster, including; real property damages; personal property damages; loss of profits and earning capacity; loss of commercial and subsistence use of natural resources; increased costs of public services; and, loss of revenues.

As for the Attorney General of the United States, he promises that the "Justice Department stands ready to make available every resource at our disposal to vigorously enforce the laws that protect the people who work and reside near the Gulf, the wildlife, the environment and the American taxpayers."

Perhaps we should not make light of these noble efforts to ensure that justice is pursued swiftly (and profitably). But press releases? Why? Are they afraid that the people who are actually containing the spill and rescuing wildlife will get all the media attention?