WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Susan Collins today voted to support the Gulf of Mexico Energy Bill that passed the full Senate by a vote of 71 to 25. The bill would expand deep sea oil and gas exploration in the Gulf, providing more domestic energy resources, while continuing the moratorium on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The bill would not permit drilling in any other coastal areas.
Senator Collins released this statement following Senate passage of the bill.
“This bill represents a good compromise to allow increased energy production while maintaining coastal protections. It enables increased production in the Gulf of Mexico, which is already one major source for America’s oil and gas, and would result in enough additional natural gas to heat and cool nearly 6 million homes for 15 years. This bill does not solve our energy problems, nor does it alleviate the need for energy efficiency measures such as increasing fuel economy standards for automobiles. However, it could make a real difference for families in Maine and throughout the nation that are struggling to pay the high cost of energy.
“Significantly, this bill recognizes that we can increase domestic production and reduce our reliance on foreign oil without drilling in ecologically sensitive areas such as off the Atlantic Coast. And most important, it would not lift the current moratorium protecting these areas, including the coast of Maine.”
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