Task force to look at offshore drilling

Legislative leaders have named the members of a task force on offshore drilling.

The 24-member committee will look into the economic and environmental impacts of allowing drilling for oil and natural gas off the coast of North Carolina.

The members were appointed by House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate leader Marc Basnight, who have said they expect the study could cost as much as $100,000 and take a year to complete.

They include co-chairs James Leutze, former chancellor of UNC-Wilmington, and Dr. Doug Rader, chief oceans scientist for the Environmental Defense Fund.

In a statement, Basnight said the task force would take "a long, careful look" at the costs and benefits of drilling.

Hackney echoed that statement, noting that drilling is "irreversible."

"We must fully appreciate what we’re doing before we take such a step," he said.

After the jump, the members.

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Appointed by Basnight:

James Leutze, co-chair
Orlando Hankins
Jane Louis-Raymond
Christopher Martens
Mac Montgomery
Mike Orbach
Walter Phillips
Wayland Sermons
Laura Taylor
Paul Tine
Bill Weatherspoon
Nancy White

Appointed by Hackney:

Douglas N. Rader, Co-Chair
Lawrence Cahoon
Joel J. Ducoste
Edward S. Holmes
Jamie Brown Kruse
John M. Monaghan, Jr.
Hans W. Paerl
Jane Smith Patterson
M. Paul Sherman
W. Hugh Thompson
Jeffrey D. Warren
Rob Young

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Re: Task force to look at offshore drilling

Submitted by CitizenOpinionated on January 22, 2009 - 11:52am.

Thanks for providing the link. The research is well done and informative and it will be very interesting to see their opinions. I am skeptical, but willing to be proved differently. I just read the FEC reports of particular members and easily recognize how powerful Basnight and Rand's political arms extend. This state has been notorious for special interest and honoring our donors with lucrative and/or political legislation/results. Just noticing a trend!

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Re: Task force to look at offshore drilling

Submitted by James_Protzman on January 22, 2009 - 10:31am.

There's no reason to assume it will be biased. One of our readers did a quick analysis of the task force members. It seems pretty balanced to me. (Scroll down.)

We don't know the end result, not by a long shot. Basnight may have his own agenda, but Hackney is as honest a broker as you'll find in state government.

(I know Tangoz won't agree, so all I can do is thank heaven he's not in charge of anything important.)

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Re: Task force to look at offshore drilling

Submitted by CitizenOpinionated on January 22, 2009 - 10:19am.

I think the point Tangoz is trying to make is why even do a study if at the onset it will be biased. Basnight has made it clear he does not want offshore drilling in his backyard, which is the location of the Manteo Exploration site. Thus why waste the money to perform this study, if we know the end result.

As far as Global Warming and Climate Change...it is cyclical...in case people missed over 650 scientist, climatologist and various other scientist met in Europe and agreed that the computer models were skewed and could not accurately account for the countless variables...

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As the Bushies were so fond of saying eight years ago ...

Submitted by James_Protzman on January 22, 2009 - 9:49am.

Elections have consequences.

The truth is, most people in America and here in North Carolina have repudiated your Grover Nordquist theory of government. They have voted clearly in favor of the idea science and scientific analysis should be respected at least as much as the free-market-faith-based policies you advocate.

My own personal view is that chance to sustain our addiction to Big Oil for a few more years can't possibly be worth the downside environmental risks as I understand them.

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Re: Thanks for posting this

Submitted by tangoz on January 22, 2009 - 2:27am.

Someone tell the EDF that is is now called Climate Change not Global Warming, LOL.

Where was this global warming the last 2 days boy we could have used it.

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Re: Thanks for posting this

Submitted by tangoz on January 22, 2009 - 2:23am.

Where are Republican appointees? Do you honestly believe that we will believe this is a honest panel? Appointed by two people who echoes Perdue when she said not on my watch?

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