| TRUMP PLAN WOULD OPEN 90 PERCENT OF OFFSHORE AREAS TO DRILLING: The Trump administration proposed an offshore drilling program Thursday that would open 90 percent of the nation's outer continental shelf to rigs. While repeatedly specifying that it is only the first step in the process, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said he is considering allowing drilling in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, in addition to the Gulf of Mexico. "This is a start on looking at American energy dominance and looking at our offshore assets and beginning a dialogue of when, how, where and how fast those offshore assets should be, or could be, developed," Zinke told reporters Thursday. He contrasted it with former President Barack Obama's most recent five-year plan for offshore drilling lease sales, which had no drilling around Alaska or in the Pacific or Atlantic oceans. "This is a clear difference between energy weakness and energy dominance," he said. "And under President Trump, we're going to have the strongest energy policy, and become the strongest energy superpower. And we certainly have the assets to do that." The plan, which would include 47 auctions for drilling rights between 2019 and 2024, is part of Trump's agenda to boost domestic oil and natural gas production to create "energy dominance" and unlock the nation's "great energy wealth." The only areas excluded from the plan are Alaska's Bristol Bay -- which former President George W. Bush protected -- and existing marine sanctuaries. Interior also doesn't allow drilling around Hawaii or U.S. territories. Environmentalists slammed the proposal as a giveaway to the oil industry. "The Trump administration's dramatic expansion of offshore oil drilling is beyond reckless," said Alex Taurel, deputy legislative director at the League of Conservation Voters. "Seaside communities, businesses, and elected officials from both parties have consistently opposed risky offshore drilling because of the grave threat it poses to their way of life, our climate, and local economies that rely on tourism and fishing," he said. The oil industry and its allies cheered Trump. "This new offshore leasing plan is an important step towards harnessing our nation's energy potential for the benefit of American energy consumers," Erik Milito, the American Petroleum Institute's director for upstream operations, said in a statement. Read more here. Some Republicans push back: Some Republican leaders pushed back against certain parts of the proposal. In particular, many in Florida want Zinke to retain the ban on drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that is due to expire in 2022, and some went further in asking for no drilling on the Atlantic coast. "I have already asked to immediately meet with Secretary Zinke to discuss the concerns I have with this plan and the crucial need to remove Florida from consideration," Florida Gov. Scott (R) said in a statement. "As the Department of Interior works to finalize their draft plan, I urge Secretary Zinke to recognize the Florida Congressional delegation's bipartisan efforts to maintain and extend the moratorium in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and remove this area for future planning purposes," said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). Read more here and here. Other GOP opposition: In Florida, other Republican opponents included Reps. Matt Gaetz, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Carlos Curbelo and Vern Buchanan. South Carolina Rep. Mark Sanford said he's opposed to drilling off his state's coast because the coastal communities don't want it. "Whether you are for or against offshore drilling, I think we could all agree that locals should have some degree of voice on what happens in their backyard," he said in a statement. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) said last year that he opposes drilling off the state's coast, and outgoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has also objected. Pacific governors reject drilling: The governors of California, Oregon and Washington put out a joint statement Thursday rejecting the proposal to open the Pacific Ocean for new drilling. "They've chosen to forget the utter devastation of past offshore oil spills to wildlife and to the fishing, recreation and tourism industries in our states. They've chosen to ignore the science that tells us our climate is changing and we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. But we won't forget history or ignore science," California Gov. Jerry Brown, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, all Democrats, said in their statement. "For more than 30 years, our shared coastline has been protected from further federal drilling and we'll do whatever it takes to stop this reckless, short-sighted action," they said. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) released his own statement, saying he is "evaluating all of our options" to block Zinke's proposal. COAL PRODUCTION GREW IN 2017: Domestic coal production grew 6 percent in 2017 over the previous year, according to a Rhodium Group analysis of federal data. The firm found further that employment in the coal industry was up 0.5 percent year-over-year for the first three quarters of 2017. But demand for coal continues its years-long downward trajectory. Consumption in the United States fell 2.4 percent in 2017 to its lowest point since 1982, Rhodium said. "The growth in US output was due entirely to higher export demand and slower inventory draws," the firm said in its Thursday report. AROUND THE WEB: Oregon's Court of Appeals upheld Portland's ban on major expansions of fossil fuel terminals, the Portland Tribune reports. Brookfield Business Partners agreed Thursday to buy nuclear services company Westinghouse Electric Co. from Toshiba Corp. for $4.6 billion, Reuters reports. The Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts shut down Thursday because the winter storm knocked out an external transmission line Platts reports. In The Hill's opinion section, Paul Bailey with the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity argues that the "bomb cyclone" is another reminder of how coal helps the electric grid. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Check out Thursday's stories ... - Rubio wants offshore drilling ban extended near Florida - Florida's GOP governor opposes Trump move to expand offshore oil drilling - Trump proposes massive expansion of offshore drilling - GAO finds inconsistencies in processing offshore oil testing | 
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