\non the offshore drilling problem. Some progress<\/a> from the top:<\/p>\n
Mr. Obama ordered a further six-month moratorium on new
\npermits for new deepwater oil and gas wells; suspended the planned exploration
\nin the Chukchi and Beaufort seas off the coast of Alaska; canceled a planned
\nAugust lease sale in the western Gulf of Mexico; and canceled a proposed lease
\nsale off the coast of Virginia. Environmentalists who had opposed the Alaska
\nand Virginia projects hailed the decisions.<\/p>\n
Mr. Obama said further moves will be made to strengthen
\noversight of the drilling industry and enhance safety as a commission he is
\nappointing opens its own six-month inquiry.<\/p>\n
(Side note to New York Times<\/em>: Self-identified “environmentalists” Better still, Obama “This disaster should He also spoke about Obama’s comments echo He also stressed that “Those who think we “We are relying on Now—with encouraging Related Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Climate Post: BP oil spill washes up on Potomac shores<\/a><\/p>\n Michigan: Where U.S. clean energy, emissions, efficiency policy really counts<\/a><\/p>\n Obama preaches green tech gospel to California choir<\/a><\/p>\n
\naren’t the only people opposed to putting major marine ecosystems, fisheries, coastal
\neconomies, beaches, and rig workers at risk. More Americans now oppose increased
\noffshore drilling<\/a> than support it.)<\/p>\n
\nused a White House press conference<\/a> today to personally stump for clean-energy
\nlegislation as a response to the Gulf spill—something we’ve been begging<\/a> and pleading<\/a> for.<\/p>\n
\nserve as a wake-up call that it is time to move forward on this legislation,” he
\nsaid. “I call on Democrats and Republicans in Congress, working with my
\nadministration, to answer this challenge once and for all.”<\/p>\n
\npushing for an energy-climate bill in a closed-door meeting with Senate
\nRepublicans yesterday. Notably, he didn’t say whether they expressed
\nwillingness to cooperate. They’re still the crucial barrier to progress on the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
\nhis message yesterday<\/a> at a solar-panel plant in California, where he said,
\n“I’m going to keep fighting to pass comprehensive energy and climate
\nlegislation in Washington.” But today’s D.C. presser should give the message
\nmore media attention.<\/p>\n
\nhis administration is trying really <\/em>hard
\nto find a way to stop the Gulf leak and cope with the mess it’s created.<\/p>\n
\nwere either slow in our response or lacked urgency don’t know the facts. This
\nhas been our highest priority since this crisis occurred,” he said.<\/p>\n
\nevery resource and every idea, every expert and every bit of technology to work
\nto stop it. We will take ideas from anywhere but we are going to stop it. I
\nknow that doesn’t lessen the enormous sense of anger and frustration felt by
\npeople on the Gulf and so many Americans.”<\/p>\n
\nsigns that the “top
\nkill” might finally be plugging up<\/a> the Gulf gusher—Obama needs to make
\nthe larger<\/em> energy crisis his
\nadministration’s highest priority, tapping every resource and every expert and
\nevery bit of technology to move the nation to a clean energy economy. There’s
\nstill time to make use of this crisis.<\/p>\n
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