WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman John Carney today released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s proposal to open up waters off the Atlantic Coast for drilling:

“I'm concerned that this proposal would put Delaware and our neighbors at risk of suffering the same devastation and destruction as the Gulf Coast after the BP spill. In light of increased domestic production, it's also unnecessary, and not worth the risk. Instead, we should focus on developing alternative energy technologies, like off-shore wind. That’s how we will address the serious challenges of climate change, protect our natural resources, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It will also help us improve U.S. competitiveness in rapidly growing industries and create jobs for Delawareans. Expanding drilling in Delaware’s backyard is the wrong move for the country.”

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Congressman Carney signed a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in August 2014 requesting that the waters off the Atlantic be excluded from the Administration’s oil and gas leasing program. Last Congress, Congressman Carney was an original cosponsor of the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act (H.R. 924), which would have created a separate tax credit for offshore wind to help companies attain financing for wind power production in the Atlantic.