The U.S. government’s Minerals Management Service’s May 1, 2006, press release showed that 113 oil rigs were destroyed and 457 pipelines were damaged – including 101 pipelines that had a diameter of 10 inches or greater – during the summer 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Houston Chronicle reported those two storms caused 595 oil spills releasing an estimated 9 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Senator McCain flip-flopped and now supports offshore drilling (calling it safe even during hurricanes).

Sen. Obama is right: New offshore oil drilling is not the correct, safest or fastest way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He reminds people that the oil companies already have over 60 million acres of land and offshore sites they have leased on which they have not drilled and that we can switch to wind, solar and other renewable forms of power as well as have more efficient products.

In the meantime, most Republicans in the Senate (not our two) for the fourth time have refused to extend the wind and solar tax credits. Wind projects can come on line years faster than oil drilling projects, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and keeping money and jobs in the United States.

Most Republican senators (not our two) have also refused to increase funding for the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program and weatherization. For shame!

Pam Person

Orland