TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

House OKs Coastal Drilling; Bill Excludes Florida's Gulf

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: September 17, 2008

WASHINGTON - The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees to energy development off its shore.

Democratic leaders called it a step toward energy independence, but Republicans labeled it a "sham" because most of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil believed to lie below off-limits coastal waters are within 50 miles of land and will remain out of bounds.

The measure passed in a largely party-line vote of 236-189. It now goes to the Senate, where energy will be the topic later in the week. Thirteen Democrats bucked their leadership and voted against the measure.

Even before the House vote, the White House said President Bush was prepared to veto the measure should it reach his desk. An administration statement said the bill would "stifle development" of offshore energy resources by essentially making permanent drilling bans within the 50-mile coastal buffer, while imposing new taxes on the largest oil companies.

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the bill "represents a new direction in energy policy" and a "bold step forward that will end our dependence on foreign oil" by using billions of dollars collected in taxes on large oil companies to promote alternative fuels and energy efficiency.

Republicans called the drilling measure a ruse to provide political cover to Democrats feeling pressure to support more drilling at a time of high gas prices.

Although the bill would open up U.S. coasts for new drilling, Florida's Gulf coast is not included.

At the urging of Florida members in the House, Pelosi agreed the bill would honor a 2006 energy agreement protecting some of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico until 2022.

That 2006 agreement had opened up and added 8.3 million acres in the eastern Gulf for expanded oil production in return for a "no drilling" buffer zone for 125 miles off Florida's Panhandle and west coast.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Opens federal waters beyond 50 miles from shore along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling, ending drilling bans that have been in effect for 26 years. States would have to agree to drilling for areas between 50 and 100 miles from land. Florida is exempted.

• Rolls back $18 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies and requires energy companies to pay billions of dollars in additional royalties.

The Associated Press

Tribune reporter Billy House contributed to this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT