‘We need solutions of the future’ : Joe Biden On Environmental Issues

Back at the beginning of July 2008, when we were all arguing and speculating about who might be Obama’s Vice-Presidential pick, Joe Biden penned an op-ed in the Delaware News Journal (Wilmington) about the folly of offshore drilling. He stated the obvious , which most of the other Democrats seem to be missing: President Bush and Sen. John McCain are trying to sell us on the oil companies’ old argument that repealing the 27-year old moratorium on drilling in protected areas offshore will lower gas prices. Americans need to put this tired debate to rest. Our security -- both here at home and abroad -- depends on it. First, the oil companies in this country now hold 7,000 leases to drill offshore, yet only 20 percent of those leases are producing oil. That is 68 million acres for which they already have the rights to drill. Nearly 80 percent of our offshore oil is already available for leasing -- approximately 54 billion barrels total. They could be drilling i...