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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Ralph Northam breaks ranks, asks feds to exclude Virginia from offshore drilling list

Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam asked federal officials in a letter Thursday to exclude Virginia from potential oil and gas exploration leases along the Atlantic coast.

Northam, a Democrat who has announced he plans to run for governor in 2017, has previously stated his opposition to offshore drilling along Virginia. His letter to the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management formalized his position, and puts him at odds with much of the rest of Virginia's senior political establishment.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the state's two U.S. senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner - all Democrats - are among those who have advocated putting Virginia into play as a potential offshore drilling state. All have cited drilling's job-creating potential for their support but said their backing is contingent, among other things, upon Virginia sharing in any royalties from offshore leases.

Northam's letter comes as the federal bureau nears the release, expected next month, of the next phase ...Read more >>