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Thursday: Drilling Down
posted at 2008-11-20 23:26 | Last modified 2008-11-21 00:31
Senate Pres pro tem Marc Basnight announced today he and House Speaker Joe Hackney have agreed to set up a joint study commission on offshore drilling energy exploration.
Basnight’s never been a fan of the idea (he’s from Manteo, remember), and from what he said today, that hasn’t changed. But he pointed out that the issue got considerable political traction this year. Hear his uncut comments on that here.
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Basnight says the commission is a way to cut through the spin to the actual facts about the feasibility and results of drilling off NC’s coast. Campaign season polls showed a majority of NC voters think we should drill. Basnight says that’s because they were under the impression that it would lower their gas prices (an argument frequently advanced by Republican gubernatorial contender Pat McCrory).
Basnight says oil company research from the '80s shows NC is unlikely to have much if any oil. But he’s open to the idea that newer technologies might find more deposits:
"If the study were to come back and say we have this incredible find and it is larger than anything man has seen, I'd have to look at that."
Even so, Basnight made it clear he’s more interested in alternative energy sources, especially a current UNC study on windfarms. He says some parts of the coast would be perfect sites for wind power, thanks to shallow water and high wind, and they’d be out of sight of people. Invoking T. Boone Pickens’ windfarms in the Texas panhandle, he said NC has the potential to raise wind power's profile around the world.
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Basnight said he doesn’t know how long it would take the drilling commission to find solid conclusions. He estimated it would cost 100K, though if they need much scientific research, the pricetag’s likely to be substantially higher. Basnight says they'll start naming members in the next week or two.
The state GOP, predictably, called the whole endeavor a waste of money. The N&O’s Ben Niolet has the details.
You could argue it’s all pretty much moot, anyway. The state only controls the first three miles off the coast. The feds are looking at 50 miles out, and the state wouldn’t have any control over that. Still, Basnight seems to be hoping the study would turn popular sentiment and influence the state’s congressional delegation to vote against federal proposals.
Not according to Hoyle
State Senator David Hoyle’s name has been popping up a lot lately in discussions about Perdue’s cabinet. The notoriously “business-friendly” Gaston Democrat is considered a frontrunner for the top job at Commerce. But Basnight said today that Hoyle, his friend and roommate, isn’t interested in a move to the executive branch.
The grapevine also puts DOT Board member Lanny Wilson in the frontrunner spot for DOT Secretary. Wilson is one of three major Perdue fundraisers on the DOT board -- the other two resigned under a cloud – and critics say his appointment would send a clear signal that Perdue will carry on business as usual on Jones St. But Basnight said today he doesn’t see a problem with naming a fundraiser to head the department, calling Wilson “highly qualified” for the job.
Breaking it down
Democracy NC’s Bob Hall sent out a really interesting breakdown today of early voting vs. Election Day voting patterns around the state. According to the report, Obama, Hagan, and Perdue all “lost” on Nov 5th, but each amassed enough early votes to prevail anyway.
Hall says statewide turnout was 70% - the highest it’s been in 40 years – with some counties (notably Chatham) hitting the 75% mark. And it turns out most NC voters were smart enough to figure out the whole non-presidential straight ticket ballot issue – the undervote for the top race was down to 1%. More details at Democracy NC’s site.
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