Passed 6/29/2010
WHEREAS the British Petroleum oil leak disaster has focused the world’s attention on the unreliable safety standards of offshore drilling, the inadequate regulatory oversight of such drilling, and its potential for catastrophic environmental damage, and
WHEREAS along with this tragedy comes a short window of opportunity to take bold steps to address our nation’s addiction to fossil fuels, dependence on foreign oil, out-sized production of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change, and lack of a long-term clean energy strategy, and
WHEREAS failure to act now will leave future generations to address the dire economic, environmental, and national-security consequences of our fossil fuel-based lifestyle,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley (DPSFV) calls on the President and Congress to pass legislation phasing out offshore drilling entirely, including banning future permits for offshore rigs, studying and enacting a closely monitored shutdown of existing rigs as soon as possible, requiring strict industry-wide safety standards until such a shutdown can be effected, eliminating the current 75 million dollar cap on oil company liability for damages from leaks, and requiring specific resources to be made available by oil companies for timely mitigation of damages, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DPSFV calls upon the President and Congress to pass a comprehensive Energy bill with hard targets towards ending our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels in the next 20 years through clean technology development incentives, smart development and planning in urban areas, public transportation options, higher fuel standards for automobiles, and other available clean energy options.