Environmentalists blast Obama's offshore drilling plan as a threat to coastal communities

President Obama wants to open vast expanses of ocean along the Atlantic coastline, eastern Gulf of Mexico and north coast of Alaska to offshore oil and gas drilling -- but concerns are being raised about how the plan would impact coastal ecosystems as well as local economies.

nothing to address climate change, provide only about six months worth of oil, and put at risk multi-billion dollar tourism and fisheries industries," stated Derb Carter, director of SELC's Carolinas office."One oil spill could devastate a coast."

He called instead for reducing U.S. dependence on polluting energy sources by "bringing America's innovative talent to bear on fully exploiting energy efficiency and clean renewable energy sources."

(Photo of offshore oil drilling platform from the National Energy Technology Laboratory.)