"During the last legislative session, anonymous oil
representatives told Florida's legislators that offshore drilling could be
done 3 - 10 miles offshore without harming Florida's environment,
tourism or the economy.
The fact is Florida's economy is based on having clean beaches and a
healthy environment, not oil refineries, storage tanks, oil platforms and
pipelines. The fact is hurricanes happen and oil spills happen, the fact is
using the most modern and best available technologies oil spills still
happen, and the fact is oil refineries require tremendous amount of
water and will compete directly with existing industries and jobs that are
dependent on a limited supply of water."
- Manasota-88: December 2009 Newsletter