Friday, May 12, 2006

House Panel Approves Gas Drilling Off Outer Banks

Bad news from Washington, the House Appropriations Committee voted yesterday to allow drilling for natural gas off the east coast and North Carolina Outer Banks starting in 2012. The panel approved the measure on a 37-25 vote and it could be up for a vote in the full House as early as next week. Currently there is a moratorium on offshore drilling until 2012, but some folks have been fighting for new drilling as a way to help reduce fuel costs. The bill still has to make it through the full House, the Senate, and the President's veto, but many have voiced support. If the bill does pass drilling rigs could be erected as close as 3 miles off the Outer Banks. Surprisingly very little coverage has been given to this story in North Carolina, more on the panel's vote is available from the Miami Herald.

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