House Oks Offshore Drilling

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn a 26-year ban on offshore drilling as part of an energy package that also eliminates $18 billion in tax breaks for oil companies, requires utilities to produce 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020, and lifts a moratorium on developing fuel from Rocky Mountain shale. The House bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate; but if passed, it would allow oil companies to drill as close as 50 miles to the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific coasts if adjacent states agree, and beyond 100 miles without state approval. Many Republicans criticized the measure ”“ which passed 236 to 189 ”“ saying that it was a half-hearted attempt by the Democrats to placate voters concerned about high gas prices. Republican leaders want a less restrictive bill that opens more of the Outer Continental Shelf to drilling, includes incentives for coal and nuclear power, and retains more tax breaks for oil companies.