The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has set the alarm bells ringing. President Obama called it an “unprecedented environmental disaster”. This mishap has sparked a debate about the environmental safety concerns related to offshore drilling. An immediate reaction to the spill was California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s withdrawal of support for a plan to expand oil drilling off the Californian coast.

After all 5,000 barrels of oil are leaking into the water everyday and among other things, that has a huge impact on the aquatic ecosystem. The supply of seafood from the gulf is being curtailed as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has blocked fishing in federal waters from Louisiana to waters off Pensacola Bay. Louisiana alone boasts a seafood industry worth $2.4 billion. That will definitely be affected. That’s not all, in the coming days, you and I might be paying a little more for our favorite seafood meal at a local restaurant.

The writing on the wall is very clear, offshore drilling has a big risk involved. But didn’t President Obama recently make a case for offshore drilling? Well, yes he did and for now that issue might be put on the back burner. But the moment is ripe for him to renew the stalled energy and climate bill. He could push for cleaner energy options that will reduce America’s dependence on oil and fossil fuels. So will he or won’t he?