Vets4Energy at Vets4Vets in Jacksonville, FL

April 2, 2016

Cmdr. Tom Garcia (Ret. USN), Florida’s Vets4Energy Co-Chair, provided an update at the Vets4Vets uarterly meeting of 185 attendees.  He spoke primarily about the importance of energy security as it relates to national security and pointed out three important energy issues that affect Florida:

• President Obama’s reversal on offshore drilling negatively affects Florida in that it reduces the number of potential jobs available in the industry on the east coast. With JaxPort being a vital economic driver for Northeast Florida, removing the potential for offshore drilling south to Georgia is bad for the economy.
• The Florida Legislature’s inability to regulate fracking is a failure at the state level. Fracking is legal in Florida without a permit, so rather than regulate it, it remains open. He refuted the notion that fracking is dangerous and cited EPA’s study that fracking has not led to groundwater contamination.
• The Veterans Energy Pipeline is a new tool for veterans who are interested in starting a career in the oil and gas industry. Many in the industry are going to be retiring in the coming years and the energy industry wants veterans for these positions.

Vets4Energy appreciated the invitation to speak and looks forward to working with Vets4Vets in Florida more during the year.

Vets4Vets is a movement in Jacksonville that provides information and encourages veterans to become more involved in the political process.