Del. Ben Cline (center) is joined by GOP Augusta County delegate candidate Dickie Bell (left) and longtime legislator, Augusta County Del. Steve Landes at the Greenville Ave., Staunton Exxon station, calling for offshore drilling in Virginia. (Staff photo by Jerry E. Clark)

Del. Cline Seeks Federal Approval For Virginia Offshore Energy Exploration   STAUNTON, VA (September 19, 2009) – Delegate Ben Cline (R-Rockbridge) released a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Ken Salazar, following Secretary Salazar’s decision earlier this year to delay consideration of a five-year plan for oil and gas development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf by another six months. In his letter, Delegate Cline offered strong support for lifting the moratorium on offshore exploration rights off of Virginia’s coast. The public comment period on the proposed schedule of offshore lease sales concludes at the end of September. The delegate, who represents the Rockbridge area, was joined for a brief press conference at the Greenville Avenue Exxon by GOP Augusta County candidate Dickie Bell and longtime House of Delegates member from Augusta County Steve Landes. “Our Commonwealth has made great strides in the past decade to encourage and promote the development of alternative energy sources as a means to lower energy costs for hard working families here in Virginia,” commented Cline in his letter. He continued, “Lifting the moratorium on offshore exploration will not only free up precious natural resources off our coast for local benefit but it will, in turn, provide Virginia with additional revenue and ease our budget problems in the future. Additionally, developing these resources would create thousands of new jobs in our Commonwealth, arriving at the right time to assist in lifting Virginia’s hardworking families and communities out of this economic recession.” Cline expressed his frustration at the simultaneous U.S. funding of foreign energy development at a time when America needs to be addressing its own energy independence. The Delegate voiced his deep discontent over the decision by the federal government to loan a reported $2 billion to Petrobus, a foreign state-owned oil company, to help pay for offshore oil exploration off the coast of Brazil while plans to release a moratorium on offshore exploration off the coast of the United States are still uncertain. Cline stated, “Since Governor Kaine has repeatedly said his position as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and close association with the President would lead to benefits for Virginia, I am sure he would join me and numerous others in both parties in calling on President Obama to stop supporting foreign offshore exploration and, instead, allow similar projects to move forward here at home. Doing so would increase the number of jobs in the Commonwealth, create more businesses in Virginia, and allow us to develop our energy market and become innovators in the field of energy development and sustainability.” For a complete video of the press conference, go to the Rockbridge Weekly's video website known as EyeOnVirginia.com. Here's the direct link: Cline, Others Call for Offshore Drilling

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