| Natural gas is used in 60 million homes | | | | portfolio, offshore energy development, |
| across the country, and how some Americans | | | | particularly in Virginia, must be included," |
| plan to develop their energy supplies can | | | | said Ward. |
| greatly affect homes and businesses all | | | | |
| across the country. | | | | Developing the nation's domestic oil and |
| | | | natural gas resources has a number of |
| As the country's demand for energy continues | | | | benefits. Offshore energy development will |
| to grow, the nation's leaders must determine | | | | let the U.S. better use its own natural |
| a viable strategy to secure America's energy | | | | resources to help maintain reliable energy |
| future. Many proponents of increased domestic | | | | supplies and stable energy prices, benefiting |
| energy development believe the United States | | | | consumers and businesses alike. The |
| is losing the global energy race and will | | | | Department of Energy's Energy Information |
| continue to fall behind unless the nation | | | | Administration forecasts natural gas demand |
| begins utilizing more of its domestic oil and | | | | to grow by almost 40 percent by 2025. "We |
| natural gas resources. | | | | can't look at those numbers and not think |
| | | | about the future and what we're going to do |
| Some advocates say increasing the production | | | | when we get there," said Ward. "Leaving |
| of domestic oil and natural gas, namely the | | | | domestic energy development out of the |
| large amounts of undeveloped energy resources | | | | equation is against the nation's best |
| off Virginia's coastlines and along the outer | | | | interest." |
| continental shelf, is a good start to | | | | |
| securing America's energy future and should | | | | Best Climate For Business |
| be included in any final energy legislation. | | | | |
| | | | Virginia has been recognized by Forbes |
| Restrictions Discourage Supply | | | | magazine as having the best climate for |
| | | | business in the U.S. for economic growth, |
| Supporters of offshore domestic energy | | | | business costs/incentives and quality of |
| development are working to improve government | | | | life. Adding offshore oil and natural gas |
| policies that currently restrict exploration | | | | development and production would further |
| and development of untapped energy resources | | | | position it as a business-friendly state and |
| off the nation's East and West Coasts and | | | | increase its prosperity and prestige. |
| parts of the Gulf of Mexico. Mike Ward, | | | | |
| executive director of the Virginia Petroleum | | | | There is no silver bullet to solving the |
| Council, believes that these policies push | | | | nation's energy woes; however, enhancing the |
| the nation backward; encouraging demand while | | | | development of domestic oil and natural gas |
| discouraging supply. "In order to provide | | | | resources is a solution that should be |
| American consumers with reasonable energy | | | | included in any comprehensive energy policy. |
| prices and the nation with a diverse energy | | | | |