This is a sore spot with me. May I rant a bit? The Gulf of Mexico Coast is referred to as the U.S. Energy Coast. Except for Florida all coastal states on the Gulf have offshore drilling. Reserves do exist off the west, east, and Florida coastlines but have been put "off limits." NIMBY pure and simple. So, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama pay the price for supplying a large part of domestic production and refining of oil for the entire nation in the form of the undesireable consequences which support the no drill bans for the rest of the coastal areas. Pollution and loss of coastal wetlands to name two. Bad for everybody else. OK for the Gulf Coast. Drilling activities in Louisiana contributed in part to the loss of protective wetlands and barrier islands which worsened the effects of Katrina and Rita. The latest blow has come in the form of GOM offshore open loop LNG terminals known to be aquatic life killers. Only one is going forward from what I understand after much protest. Ever hear of Port Fourchon? It's cajun for 'energy bottleneck.' Even without another hurricane or the unlikely terrorist strike, simple ongoing soil subsidence threatens the integrity of miles and miles of pipelines crucial to even having a domestic oil industry. Did I forget the stategic oil reserves? Louisiana salt domes. Alaska obviously does their part to say the least. Western states onshore, too. More drilling ELSEWHERE? You bet. Only seems fair.