Offshore, McCain Plugs Energy Plan
Posted on: Wednesday, 20 August 2008, 06:00 CDT
By David Jackson
Republican John McCain highlighted his support for more offshore drilling Tuesday on the biggest backdrop he could find: an oil rig more than 100 miles out in the Gulf of Mexico.
"It is time for America to get serious about energy independence, and that means we need to start drilling offshore at advanced oil rigs like this," the Arizona senator said from a platform of Chevron's Genesis production facility, which produces approximately 10,000 barrels of oil a day.
Less than a week before the convention that will nominate Democratic rival Barack Obama, McCain has been emphasizing his differences with the Illinois senator on energy policy. He'll raise the issue again today at a town-hall-style meeting in New Mexico.
Obama has said he would consider more offshore drilling if it was part of an energy package that included ways to offset damage to the environment and more support for alternative energy sources. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House will take up the issue next month.
McCain said Obama is "wrong" not to embrace offshore drilling and noted that such rigs as the Genesis can operate "with even greater efficiency and environmental safety."
Obama has said it would take too long for the U.S. to realize the benefits of new offshore drilling. He has proposed $1,000 "emergency energy rebates" to offset higher fuel costs.
Former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack, speaking to reporters on behalf of Obama, criticized McCain for not backing a compromise energy bill in the Senate that would permit more drilling while revoking certain tax breaks for oil companies.
McCain spokesman Taylor Griffin said the specifics of the Senate proposal have yet to be spelled out, but McCain has urged Congress to return from its summer break to vote on the issue.
After the New Mexico event, McCain plans to spend the rest of the week at home in Arizona working on his nomination acceptance speech, to be delivered Sept. 4 in St. Paul. (c) Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Source: USA TODAY
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