ATA lauds Bush plan to drill for oil off US coast

Avatar photo

ARLINGTON, Va. –US president GeorgeW. Bush’s proposal to lift an executive moratorium on offshore drilling has been lauded by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

The association said Congress should follow suit to pave the way for offshore drilling which could provide some relief for the trucking industry and lessen the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

“We need the ability to explore new, untapped areas for domestic energy supplies,” said ATA president and CEO Bill Graves.

“The US has an opportunity to improve our energy situation and continue to support economic growth, while providing consumers and businesses with the essential energy they need.”

If Bush has his way, American companies will be able to drill for oil and natural gas on the Outer Continental Shelf, 100 miles off the US coast. The ATA reports that currently restricted areas of the shelf hold at least 18 billion barrels of oil and 76 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which can be recovered using environmentally-friendly techniques. The oil could power 40 million vehicles for 15 years while heating two million households. •

Avatar photo

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*