US 26-year ban on offshore drilling is over

The new bill would allow drilling off the US coastline up to a distance of between 50 to 100 miles (80 to 160 kilometers) overturning a 1981 federal moratorium.

The reason for such a step is rocketing global fuel prices. That's why US President George W. Bush lifted the drilling ban in July, urging lawmakers to swing behind him in the country's search for energy independence.

The bill is now due to go before the Senate, probably by next week. But it will have to win the support of at least 60 out of the 100 senators in order to be passed, which is unlikely given the lack of Republican support, who criticize the bill for failing to support moves to develop nuclear energy.

The offshore drilling plan has become a hotly contested issue on the campaign trail in the 2008 White House race.

The experts say any new drilling will only start to impact on gas prices in 10 to 15 years. At the same time it would jeopardize the environment and that production would take years to get up and running, and thus is not a realistic answer to the current crisis.

Author: Ksenia Kochneva