Bill would ban oil drilling in Georges Bank

WASHINGTON – Oil and gas drilling would be banned on New England’s famed Georges Bank fishing grounds in the new energy bill being considered in the House.

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., pushed to have the ban inserted in the Democratic-backed legislation, which faces an expected vote Tuesday. The energy bill ends a longtime moratorium on drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific waters.

Markey, who chairs the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and is a leading Democratic voice on energy issues, said the ban was needed to protect the nation’s most valuable fishery, a vital part of the New England economy.

“It was vital that we always protect Georges Bank from potentially harmful drilling,” Markey said in a statement.

The Conservation Law Foundation, the environmental advocacy group that has worked since the 1970s to protect Georges Bank from oil and gas exploration, praised the ban.

“Drilling in Georges Bank could devastate New England’s premier fishing grounds and ruin acres of priceless underwater habitat that provides a home for fish, whales and other animals,” Peter Shelley, vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, said in a statement. “The provision to block offshore drilling in Georges Bank is a major victory for fishing families that will ensure that this special natural treasure is protected for future generations.”

There has been a moratorium on fishing much of Georges Bank for over a decade – and only recently have there been signs of recovery, Markey said. Allowing oil and gas development at this critical time could be disastrous to the full restoration of the New England fishery, he added.

Georges Bank is home to more than 100 species of fish and shellfish, whales, dolphins and porpoises, Markey noted.

Markey also backed language in the House bill to ban drilling in national marine sanctuaries, including the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, located off Massachusetts.

High gas prices coupled with economic woes have burdened consumers and stepped up pressure on Congress to expand drilling opportunities for oil and gas companies in the U.S.

The new energy bill would allow drilling 50 miles beyond shore if a state agrees to offshore oil or gas development.

Republicans slammed the measure, saying that it would keep off-limits nearly 90 percent of offshore oil because it lies within 50 miles of land.

The bill also calls for $18 billion in taxes on the largest oil companies. Most of the money was to be used for tax breaks for alternative energy such as solar, wind and biomass. Democrats said it was a balanced bill aimed at shifting priorities from fossil fuels to other energy sources.

“This is the culmination of a Congress dedicated to updating our nation’s energy policy,” Markey said. “This legislation, along with the energy bill we passed nearly a year ago, will make our buildings, cars, trucks and appliances more efficient, and unleash a renewable revolution that will reinvigorate our stagnant economy.”