The San Francisco Chronicle reports today that a new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows that, for the first time in 30 years, a majority (51%) of Californians support drilling off the coast of California.

Responding to the fact that a majority if her constituents disagree with her on the issue, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) told the Chronicle: “The appropriate question is if you knew you could get more energy from efficiency and clean technologies such as solar, wind and geothermal, would you rather do that or drill along our pristine coast and risk harming a multibillion-dollar tourism, fishing and recreation economy.”

According to the Energy Information Administration less than 1 percent of our nation’s energy comes from solar, wind, and geothermal sources. Oil and natural gas, which are what could be developed if Sen. Boxer voted the way her constituents wanted her to, produce 62% of our nation’s energy. There is simply no way our nation’s energy needs can be met through new wind, solar, and geothermal sources alone.