Contact Information

  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gregoire condemns Bush administration decision to end ban on drilling

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on the Bush administration�s pursuit to end the ban on off shore drilling:

�I strongly oppose today�s announcement by the Bush administration to allow offshore drilling that would weaken the national oil and gas leasing moratorium off our shores. For 26 years, our coasts have been protected by that moratorium and I believe that it should remain in place in perpetuity.

�With soaring gas prices, there is no better time to end our dependence on oil. As a country, we should be pursuing clean energy sources and investing in alternative energy technologies. I lead with substance and that�s why I�m pushing hard via legislation and with policies to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This includes steps to harness this state�s tremendous innovative culture to develop alternatives to fossil fuel and create thousands of green collar jobs.

�The Bush administration�s shortsighted decision is extremely frustrating. Instead of proposing ideas that would destroy the pristine treasures of our coasts, we should be working quickly and aggressively to investigate possible market manipulation in the petroleum markets that raids our wallets.

�I urge the Bush administration to stop relying on old school energy policy and invest in clean energy technologies to put an end to our reliance on oil.�

# # #