Barbour Says Lawsuit Will Harm State’s Economy

th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. The State of Mississippi joined Louisiana and Alabama in motions to intervene filed in Gulf Restoration Network, Inc., et. al. v. Salazar, et al. and Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, et. al. v. Salazar, et al. Six environmental groups have filed two separate challenges to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement’s approval of Shell’s exploration plan off the Alabama coast. “Any further delay or reduction in offshore drilling would be devastating to the energy sector and our state,” Gov. Barbour said. “The energy industry provides good jobs for our people and fuels our economy. In a time when our country needs to be producing more energy, this attempt to interfere with the states’ best economic interests is misguided and detrimental to the well-being of Mississippi and our country’s energy security.” Any ruling in opposition to Shell’s plans, which were approved by the federal government, would have a devastating impact on energy production in the Gulf of Mexico, which produces 25 percent of the country’s oil and natural gas. Other offshore drilling projects, along with jobs and investment, would likely be delayed or moved to other parts of the world.]]]]> ]]>