Page 7 - NorthAmOil Week 07 2023

NorthAmOil COMMENTARY NorthAmOil

claimed, was essentially a peremptory effort to either the oil and gas industry or environmental
impose “green” ideals on the territory regardless activists. The matter is complicated, and there
of its economic and energy needs. are many issues that must be taken into consid-
Moreover, he insinuated that the controversy eration, he said. “I don’t want anybody to think
was being driven by political factors – and par- that I’m against the green movement, but there’s
ticularly by ill will between supporters of former a nice balance that can be struck. And in this
President Donald Trump and his successor Joe case, and as I think Senator Manchin said in the
Biden. “We are easy victims. I think there was a hearing, this is a strategic need in the region,”
lot of pressure from the rank and file of the EPA he stated.
during the Trump administration not to allow
us to get permits. And now we’re feeling the Elusive balance
backlash from those people who feel like they As of press time, the fate of the refinery remains
had an axe to grind,” Bryan told the St. Thomas undecided. The EPA has not yet unveiled the
Source. final version of its plans for removing chemicals The EPA has not
The governor went on to criticise the Biden from the site of the plant, and PHRT has not
administration’s energy policy as unrealistic. completed a revised timeline for re-opening. yet unveiled the
“You know, I think it’s great that the president Meanwhile, the balance that Bryan claims final version
has taken off on this whole go-green thing and to favour is likely to prove elusive. On the one
encouraging people to use solar and renewa- hand, the governor’s invocation of the political of its plans
bles, down to EV cars and renewable systems,” divide between Trump supporters and Trump
he remarked. “But at the same time, there’s still a critics within the US all but guarantees that for removing
considerable amount of carbon-based fuels that the matter of restarting the refinery will prove
are needed to keep our country going.” contentious. chemicals from
Bryan went on to say that there was some sup- On the other hand, Bryan’s own approach is the site of the
port among US legislators for re-opening the not always balanced. After all, less than a year
Limetree Bay Refinery. He hailed Joe Manchin, ago, the governor responded to the Russian plant.
a Democrat from West Virginia who serves as invasion of Ukraine by saying it was time for the
head of the Senate Committee on Energy and USVI to ditch fossil fuels entirely and convert to
Natural Resources, and described him as a “great 100% renewable energy as soon as possible. He
friend” to the USVI. “Manchin was always lob- also claimed that his administration was ready
bying to the EPA for us to get the refinery piece to team up with a major energy company that
done,” he commented. was capable of setting up solar power facilities
The governor called for compromise, indi- that could cover all of the USVI’s electricity
cating that he would rather not see US govern- consumption within just a few months. (For the
ment agencies give unconditional support to record, that claim never came to pass.)™

Week 07 16•February•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P7