Malloy: No To Offshore Drilling

HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Dannel Malloy has joined several other Atlantic coast state governors in asking for federal exemptions that would prevent offshore drilling.

Governors of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia have expressed joint opposition to the plan that would allow the drilling. They are seeking the same measures as Florida which got an exemption.

“Like Florida, each of our states has unique natural resources and an economy that is reliant on tourism as an essential driver,” the governors wrote. “We support the notion of energy diversity, but the environmental and economic importance of the Atlantic Ocean must be weighed against the potential unintended consequences of these types of activities.”

Former President Barrack Obama blocked drilling on about 94 percent of the outer continental shelf and other areas, according to the New York Times. President Donald Trump's move to open offshore drilling has been praised by energy executives and lambasted by environmental groups and tourism agencies.

Image via Andrew Harnik/AP