Trump Oil Drilling Proposal Florida – Pictured: Governor Ron DeSantis — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Julie Hansen
Locals and environmental experts are worried about a proposed oil drilling project close to Florida’s coast. The five-year plan unveiled Thursday by the Trump administration intends to increase U.S. oil output offshore, including at some locations as close as 100 miles from Florida’s coast.
Professor and scientist Dr. James Douglass of FGCU spoke about the possible dangers.
“This proposal would allow oil drilling in waters much closer to the coast of Florida and would put Florida at greater risk of more oil spill disasters,” stated Dr. Douglass.
Previous oil leaks in the Gulf that have affected Florida’s ecosystem have sparked concerns about the plan. Dr. Douglass stressed the danger to wildlife in the area.
“We have many bottlenose dolphins and other marine mammals in Florida, including the Florida manatee, one of our most beloved animals here,” stated Dr. Douglass. “One of the reasons that Floridians have year after year, refused to allow oil drilling in our coast is because of our concern for our unique Florida wildlife.”
Justina Johnson, a longtime resident of Fort Myers Beach, shared these concerns.
“We were sitting and watching the sunset, and the dolphins were, you know, jumping out of the water,” Johnson recalled. “We’d hate for them to be affected, and any of the other wildlife or the sea life that’s out there.”
Dr. Douglass recommended that the state use alternative energy sources.
“Florida has a ton of sunshine, and yet we’re kind of behind on solar energy development compared to other states like California and Texas,” Dr. Douglass said. “I think exploring some of those green energy options would make a lot more sense for us in Florida than risking drilling off of our coasts.”
Although some individuals think the drilling could increase the U.S. energy supply and generate jobs, Dr. Douglass expects strong opposition to the idea.
In response to the proposal, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged the Department of Interior to stick to Trump’s 2020 policy of protecting eastern Gulf waters and prohibiting oil drilling off the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida until 3032.
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Born and raised in South Florida, Krystal is a recent graduate from the University of Miami with professional writing experience at the collegiate and national news outlet levels. She’s a foodie who loves all things travel, the beach, & visiting new places throughout Florida.