The climate change bill to be unveiled today calls for new oil and gas drilling off the Atlantic coast — but allows states to ban drilling within 75 miles of their shores. "Florida," CQ says, "would be permitted to extend a ban out 125 miles.
"The bill’s authors hope the concession to Florida will prevent a filibuster by Bill Nelson, D-Fla., another leading drilling opponent."
That's the same limit that President Barack Obama had proposed and that Nelson said he'd be okay with — if the U.S. military, which conducts training sessions in the Gulf of Mexico, gave it the ok. The administration had pushed to drill at 45 miles off the coast, Nelson has said.
Nelson Tuesday tweeted his opposition to drilling: "Word is climate bill might let rigs in Florida’s no-drill zone. If Sens. Kerry, Lieberman are following me on Twitter: that’s a non starter."
Related posts:
- Bill Nelson: Thumbs down on climate change bill
- Environment Florida warns new climate bill could mean Florida drilling; asks LeMieux to join Nelson in opposition
- Nelson drums up opposition for Senate oil drill plan
- Bill Nelson: President Obama’s drilling plan is DOA
- Ros-Lehtinen tweets doubt on climate change bill – - and says she’ll vote No