Lead on energy independence

Sen. Tim Scott recognizes that South Carolina’s future lies off its coast.

Together with a bipartisan group of southeastern senators, he just introduced the Southern Atlantic Energy Security Act, a bill that will boost our state’s economy and strengthen U.S. national security by allowing Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia to share the revenue generated from offshore energy development. Lawmakers must pass it.

The bill has clear economic benefits. Here in South Carolina, the proposal would add 35,000 jobs by 2035. That’s on top of the 67,000 jobs the oil and natural gas industry already supports.

It’ll boost state revenues, too. Sen. Scott’s proposal could provide $2.7 billion in new state funds by 2035, money that could be used to help repair our crumbling infrastructure. There are more than 1,000 structurally deficient bridges across the state and our poorly maintained roads are costing drivers roughly $1 billion annually.

Offshore drilling can do more than just strengthen our state. It can also strengthen our nation’s security.

To see how, look no further than hydraulic fracturing. Better known as “fracking,” this revolutionary drilling technique has given the United States access to vast stores of previously untapped oil and natural gas. Over the past five years alone, fracking has increased U.S. oil production by over 3.7 million barrels a day and decreased oil imports by 44 percent.

Last year, the United States became the world’s top oil and gas producer. And we’re well on our way to energy independence, a crucial national security goal.

Historically, America has relied on a host of unstable — and often, unfriendly — countries for our energy needs. This has left us vulnerable to energy blackmail and had a notable impact on our foreign policy. Thanks to fracking, though, we’re less reliant on foreign energy than ever before. Sen. Scott’s bill would boost U.S. production of oil and natural gas even further.

Unfortunately, not everyone in Washington understands such forward-looking energy policy.

The Obama administration has been hostile to offshore development, typically citing overblown safety concerns. But over the last 40 years, drilling within 200 miles of the U.S. coast has had a safety record of 99.999 percent. Plus, industry task forces and federal regulators have strengthened virtually every aspect of the offshore drilling process, so it should become even safer.

America will never achieve energy independence if we simply maintain the status quo. We must forge ahead, as we always have. Sen. Scott has given South Carolina — and America — a path to that future. Now, we must take the first step.

William Schachte Jr., a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, is South Carolina chairman for Vets4Energy.