Graham says plan would boost state
An energy plan that centers around offshore oil drilling, nuclear power plants and hydrogen fuel cells would be a cash cow for South Carolina, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday.
South Carolina is poised to benefit from all three components of the plan, Graham said at a luncheon sponsored by the North Charleston Rotary Club.
Graham, R-S.C., was pitching a compromise energy plan unveiled Friday by five Republican and five Democratic senators, who have been dubbed the Gang of 10.
"From the South Carolina perspective, the coast of South Carolina is a cash cow," Graham said of the proposal to allow oil drilling 50 miles offshore. "Out there in American-controlled waters is a lot of oil and gas. So let's go get it."
The fact that no oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico leaked during Hurricane Katrina proves it can be done without environmental risks, he said.
Constituents are hammering him daily to do something about gasoline prices hovering around $4 a gallon, and further increases are inevitable as China and India increase demand, he said. The first step to lower prices is to open up more American oil reserves, including those off the coast of South Carolina, he said.
The second step is to reduce demand, and South Carolina could also take the lead there in two key areas, he said. The first is to move ahead with nuclear power, which includes recycling spent fuel rods, as France has done, he said.
"Surely we can be as bold as the French," Graham said.
The bipartisan bill calls for building a nuclear recycling center in the United States within a year. The Savannah River Site in Aiken would be ideal for the job, he said.
The bill also calls for tax credits to stimulate production and sales of hydrogen-fuel vehicles. Again, South Carolina is poised to take the lead, with nationally recognized hydrogen-fuel research programs in place, he said. Hydrogen fuel research is ongoing at the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, South Carolina State University and Savannah River National Laboratory.
"What we have going on in our backyard is really revolutionary," Graham said. "I would like to be the hydrogen center for the country. I would like South Carolina to be the Detroit of hydrogen without the crime."
Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@ postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 9 comment(s)
Posted by crankyyankee on August 5, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
70% of South Carolina voters voted for him in the primary. He'll more than likely get a higher percentage in the general election. Go figure!
Posted by Larz13 on August 5, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Get real folks...he is going to win. The other guy has about 900 bucks in his campaign chest. Looks like a "Sure thing" is what is going to happen in the next election in SC. Overall this is probably a good idea, albeit ambitious and will probably get smoked down by the Dems in Congress.
By the way, this had nothing to do with illegal aliens.
Posted by guidedbystewart on August 5, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/4642...
Yep, there's oil in dim warters!
Posted by drp7773 on August 5, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now if we could just get him to bring jobs to the low country I mean does he not remember the shipyard and a lot of the military left this area.
Posted by NumbersSCcom on August 5, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gee! He's never wanted to allow offshore drilling before--even when China announced its intentions of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
The lesson here is that if you want Lindsey Graham to do something about energy, you have to wait until an election is near and he's desperate enough to actually listen to his constituents rather than to "boldly lead us" according to the dictates of corporate lobbyists and donors.
Posted by NumbersSCcom on August 5, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RW:
Traitor Lindsey Graham has already admitted that his Democrat opponent, Bob Conley http://aimhighwithbob.com will be running to the RIGHT of him on most issues. The thing with Bob is that he will actually follow the U.S. Constitution. That makes him against the war, against corporate welfare, and for protecting our borders and our sovereignty--concepts alien to Lindsey's mind.
crankyyankee:
67% of REPUBLICANS showing up for a primary with less than 10% of qualified voters turning out voted for Graham. Graham lost, according to that poll, a third of the party to a fellow with very little money that he outspent 10 to 1. (As opposed to Joe Wilson, for example, who sailed through with 86% of the vote in his contested primary.)
Now, let's do a little math: take 1/3 of Graham's base and apply that percentage to Bob Conley who will also benefit from a huge surge of Democratic voters for Obama and Lil' Lindsey is in deep trouble. Not that he doesn't deserve it =:>)
Meanwhile, we get to watch Lindsey Graham hump John McCain's leg all over the country trying to become his V.P. nominee . . .
Posted by Rebel_Yell on August 5, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not just drill a hole in the oil companies record monopoly profits? Trump says there is tons of oil sitting on ships throughout the world--it's not supply and demand as much as it is the monopoly that has prices high. Not so long ago everyone talked about addressing the price gauging but wag the dog and the little people with big cars (they never could afford in the first place) bend right over for BIG OIL. We don't need an upstate politician to tell us what's the best for the lowcountry's coast. No one is looking for a fix--only a temporary bandaid with huge risks. Demand an end to the monopoly first!!!
Posted by PalmettoDP on August 5, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ending the ban on drilling and exploration would mean an immediate drop in prices, even if the new supplies don't come online until after five years or so. Oil speculators would have the expectation of new supplies coming to market (this may be already happening, judging by the rapid drop in crude prices from their record highs).
There might not by any oil off of South Carolina to be found, but that doesn't mean there aren't other areas currently off limits where huge discoveries will be made. Legalizing the use of oil shale would make a huge impact in prices, also.
Just look at the huge oil field the Brazilians recently discovered off of their coast - we never know for sure what we might find until we legalize exploration.
Posted by NumbersSCcom on August 5, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RW:
If you want an idea of how Bob Conley will act in D.C. check out Ron Paul's record.