House Lifts Offshore Drilling Ban

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to lift the federal moratorium that has prevented offshore drilling on most of the U.S. coastline for the past three decades. The vote was part of an energy bill that received significant Democratic support but was opposed by Republicans. The bill allows states to decide whether to drill between 50 and 100 miles off their respective coastlines, but still keeps a ban on drilling within 50 miles of shore in place.

Offshore drilling is a controversial issue, but it seems to be rapidly become a non-partisan issue. Democrats have fought to keep the ban from lapsing for years, but have now agreed to lifting it, while Republican proponents are objecting to the new terms for offshore drilling. It is, of course, a question of trying to keep gas prices somewhat affordable.

As an interesting side note, there is essentially no limitation on offshore wind turbines — along some parts of the Atlantic coastline, there are wind farms just 12 miles from shore.