Oregon Public Broadcasting

At a hearing in San Francisco Thursday, Governor Ted Kulongoski testified against opening up the west coast to off-shore oil drilling.

It was the last of four public hearings on the subject hosted by Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar.

Kulongoski said investing in off-shore drilling would simply slow the transition to renewable energy:

Ted Kulongoski:  “The dilemma for us is, as far as I’m concerned, is this continued investment in exploration of oil and gas sends the wrong message to the people of this country.”

The hearing was packed with opponents of off-shore drilling.  

Last year Congress allowed a ban on new ocean drilling projects to expire.  Past exploration found few prospects for oil off the coast of Oregon and Washington.   But such projects appear more feasible off California’s coast.  

Salazar said after the hearing that the Obama administration’s energy policy would be released later this year.