NW Fla. and GoM drilling

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. - A moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is scheduled to end in 2022. But Okaloosa’s Defense Support Initiative (DSI) and oil industry think-tank Security American’s Future Energy (SAFE) are at odds about the impact on Northwest Florida’s economy. Some in the defense industry believe offshore drilling could wipe out the region’s defense industry and cost Okaloosa County billions of dollars, jobs, and potentially the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s training sites at Eglin Air Force Base. Eglin’s offshore Gulf Range is used to test and evaluate weaponry and aircraft. "Our national defense is at stake, our test and training capabilities are at stake," said Kay Rasmussen with DSI, recognized by Florida as the official representative and the lead agency for Eglin AFB and community initiatives. DSI leads the county's efforts to ensure military installations remain viable to national defense and regional economies of Okaloosa and neighboring counties. Offshore drilling and exploration is limited to the western 66 percent of the GoM. The eastern third, which begins at Hurlburt Field, doesn't allow drilling, so the Air Force can test weapons and planes. The military uses about 80 percent of Gulf for testing, according to SAFE, which is not enough reason to ban drilling. Oil revenue from drilling has been estimated at about $2 billion annually. That wouldn't offset the $9 billion in direct and indirect military economic impact on Okaloosa, according to DSI. The military’s direct and indirect industry is the state's fourth-largest industry. (Source: WEAR 05/22/17)