In an attempt to make our energy consumption cleaner, America has moved away from burning coal toward natural gas. This has caused demand for natural gas to increase without a comparable increase in exploration. Prices are going to go up under these conditions. Making matters worse, the United States is the only developed nation in the world that does not capture natural gas from the outer continental shelf, and while we stall and debate over the issues, other nations are securing their own energy supplies.
Canada, our friend and neighbor to the north, has been capturing natural gas from wells beneath Lake Erie since 1913. Cuba is exploring for natural gas in Cuban waters about 45 miles off the American coast, and is selling the resources they capture to China. Since so-called "slant drilling," where the rigs are set up to explore areas that are miles away from the rig in any direction, is common practice in the industry, it is possible that Cuban rigs on the outer continental shelf will capture American resources. The current situation is unacceptable, but there are solutions on the table that would greatly improve our energy security.
The legislation that Congress is considering would allow individual states to decide whether or not to allow rigs to explore the natural gas wells on the outer continental shelf. The rigs would be constructed far off the shore, beyond the visible horizon. Suggestions that our shorelines would be dominated by rigs are false and distract from a discussion of the issues in the legislation. States that decide to allow the exploration will be entitled to 37.5 percent of the royalties generated for specific uses. In Virginia, we could use that funding for transportation. The federal royalties from the project would fully fund Chesapeake Bay cleanup and provide a dedicated revenue source for the development of alternative energy sources.
This legislation is not going to solve all of our energy issues, but it would be a significant step in the right direction. The choices presented are clear: Should coastal states determine whether or not to explore for natural gas? Do they want a 37.5 percent share of royalties raised by capturing natural gas? Do we allow Cuba and China to take natural resources while the United States cannot? The American people must make decisions and formulate policies that will make our nation more energy secure. I am confident we will choose the right path.
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