My thoughts on the one-year anniversary of the BP disaster are at the CFIF blog. (That first link is to a blog post from this morning; it updates my full-length column posted overnight.)

The key takeaway from my formal column on the subject:

While it may take years to understand the full environmental consequences of the spill and the administration’s incompetence, it already is apparent how economically deleterious Mr. Obama’s policy choices have been. In particular, the drilling moratorium and subsequent permitting slowdown (or “permitorium”) – which earned the administration a “civil contempt” penalty from U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman – have had near-disastrous effects.

Please do go to the CFIF website to get the full flavor.

Meanwhile, since I’m talking about energy, it’s worth noting that famed oilman T. Boone Pickens spoke at an American Spectator-sponsored dinner last night about the great promise of energy independence offered by natural gas. Mr. Pickens is, as usual, correct. Natural gas is abundant in the United States, and it burns cleanly. I’ve always been an advocate of natural gas. Some major, easily recoverable stores of natural gas are thought to be off the mid-Atlantic coast, where Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is eager to promote exploration. Infuriatingly, the Obama moratorium continues in full force for all offshore efforts on the Atlantic Coast. This is yet another example of how this president punishes businesses, consumers, and states who had nothing to do with the BP oil spill, supposedly in response to that spill. The Obama position is abominable.