• Listen to this segment

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told “Meet the Press” on Sunday that she would consider offshore oil drilling as part of a comprehensive energy plan for the United States. The California Congresswoman conditioned her statements by reiterating that drilling is not a good option, but if used to invest in renewable energy resources it might be worthwhile. Pelosi’s statements are just the latest in the national debate over offshore oil drilling’s role in defining our energy future. Locally, the issue is playing out in Santa Barbara when its County board of Supervisors voted 3-2 yesterday to send a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger in favor of oil exploration and extraction in the region. The vote came after a public comment hearing in Santa Maria where both sides of the debate addressed their positions. Proponents of drilling off the shores of Santa Barbara stated that doing so would create employment, revenue, and increase oil supplies nationally. Opposing environmentalists contend that the costs are not being weighed against the benefits and that lifting an existing moratorium on drilling is really a Trojan horse for oil corporations to gain new leases.

GUEST: David Landecker, Executive Director of the Environmental Defense Center.

For more information, visit www.edcnet.org.