Offshore drilling opponents hold rally

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The Sierra Club sent a group from Richmond to Virginia Beach Friday morning to stage a "Wind, Not Oil" rally, using the spill in the Gulf to oppose future offshore drilling.

Whether or not you agree with those who are against allowing drilling for oil off the coast of Virginia, there is no denying the fact that the situation in the Gulf definitely presents environmentalists with an opportunity to reinforce their opposition to offshore drilling.

A small but vocal group of environmentalists showed up on the beach at 31st Street to voice their opposition to Governor Bob McDonnell's plan for an offshore lease sale.

"We need to push for reinstitution of a moratorium protecting our Atlantic Coast," said Eileen Levandoski with the Sierra Club.

The U.S. Interior Department indefinitely suspended the remaining public hearings on the sale of oil and gas leases Thursday, while it focuses on the spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

A spokesperson from Governor Bob McDonnell's office reacted to the move by saying that the move "...should not change Virginia's planned offshore lease sale in 2012," but called the pause a prudent step.

"I don't want to have a disaster like this off the Virginia Coast," McDonnell said.

Even before the announcement from the federal government to delay hearings, McDonnell said that a thorough investigation of the Gulf spill should precede any action off Virginia's coast.

"There's going to be a lot to learn," he said. "The good news is we've got two years of an environmental impact statement already planned by the federal government before we'd be allowed to drill in 2012."

"Wrong Bob, wrong," the ralliers chanted.

Protesters attending the rally urge the governor to harness the wind to meet our energy needs instead of drilling for oil off the coast.

"Up to ten percent of our energy needs can come from offshore wind off Virginia Beach," said Environmentalist Chelsea Harnish.

Beach resident Dottie Holtz's grandson, Elizah, plays on the black tarp that represents an oil spill.

"He's the guy I'm out here for, because I want this to be a safer community, a cleaner beach, and environmentally correct for everybody in the future," Holtz said.