Knowing that neither Gov. Charlie Crist nor the Senate have any plans to approve his bill, Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, plans to unveil legislation on offshore energy exploration later in the session anyway.
On Friday, Cannon’s Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning held its last public hearing. For the past year, the council has heard presentations on offshore drilling, and how it would impact the state’s environment and economy.
Even as Cannon prepares to introduce his legislation, members in both the House and Senate give the bill virtually no chance of being enacted this year. They insist that the Senate will not pass the measure and the governor will not sign it.
Critics of offshore drilling continued to lash out at the measure. Adam Rivera, Legislative Analyst for Environment Florida, said, “It’s unfortunate that advocates of offshore drilling haven’t been as presentiment with their attempts to find clean, natural solutions as they are in pushing their own agenda.”
“Offshore drilling in Florida is not going to lower gas prices or balance the state’s budget,” Rivera said.
Cannon is attempting to craft legislation that would prohibit any offshore drilling from being visual from the beach but still allowable within three miles of shore in state waters. With heavy naval operations in the Gulf, Cannon promises that the military will hold a veto over offshore drilling.
The council has also heard proposals on the auction process and the permit process for offshore oil leases.
The legislation would not in itself allow drilling, but rather would only empower the Florida Cabinet and governor to vote to allow drilling in state waters. Drilling has become increasingly attractive to state policymakers who are dealing with the double bite of declining revenues and an economy weakend by the recession.
Members of both the House and the Senate predict that drilling legislation would have a better chance of passing next year when Cannon becomes House speaker and Sen. Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, a strong advocate for offshore drilling, takes over as Senate president.
Cannon seems content to let the legislation wait until next year. On Friday afternoon, he said, “It’s better to have the policy right that to rush it.”
Environmentalists too are girding for the next round.
“The real fight is going to occur in the next session,” Rivera said.