Sunday, September 20, 2009

Florida Energy Associates pushing for offshore drilling

An energy group is mounting a renewed push to overturn Florida's ban on offshore drilling during the next legislative session, after an effort earlier this year failed.

They appeared in the spring, a secretive group trying to upend Florida's longtime ban on offshore drilling by promising millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs.

The effort to allow drilling within three to 10 miles of beaches failed to pass the Legislature, but only just. Now emissaries from Florida Energy Associates are touring the state to campaign for overturning the ban at the next legislative session, either this fall or next spring. Incoming House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, says he'll sponsor a bill to allow drilling as close as five miles offshore.

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