The editorial board at the Mobile Press Register makes a plea for the federal government to speed up the permitting process for those companies that have good safety records. If Gov. Rick Scott and the state legislature approves offshore drilling off the coast of Northwest Florida, Pensacola could be a major benefactor. More specifically, Offshore Inland, the Port of Pensacola’s newest tenant, could be benefit because its services, repairs and maintains the huge drilling platforms. Some of those jobs should go to the Pensacola area.
The Press Register points out a report by IHS Global Insight and energy research firm IHS CERA that suggests that faster permit approvals by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement could create 230,000 jobs nationwide in 2012. It says 3,400 of those could be created in Alabama and 5,400 in Mississippi.
Floridians would benefit, too, especially if drilling for natural gas is allowed off our shores.
Jobs vs. environment. Jobs for an economy starving for good paying, blue collar jobs vs. drilling platforms that put tourism and our beaches at risk…..those are the decisions.
Not easy ones to make.
Read editorial.