May 6, 2010
Contacts:
Glen Besa, (804) 387-6001
Kristina Johnson, (415) 977-5619
Virginia Offshore Oil Drilling Plans Suspended
Sierra Club Welcomes Reaction in Response to BP Oil Disaster
Richmond, Virginia – Today the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it was temporarily suspending plans for an offshore oil and gas lease sale off the coast of Virginia while the investigation into the BP oil disaster continues.
Sierra Club Virginia Chapter Director Glen Besa issued the following statement:
"The Sierra Club welcomes the decision to put drilling plans on hold. The evidence that oil is dirty, deadly and dangerous is growing even now in the Gulf. This disaster should be a wake up call, a reminder of the costs of our dirty energy dependence.
“The time for clean energy is now, and we must embrace clean energy. The BP oil disaster requires that we reinstate the federal offshore drilling moratorium and adopt an aggressive plan to wean our country from our dirty fuel addiction.
"Enough is enough. It's time to take offshore drilling off the table for good and embrace clean energy."
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