Offshore Energy Breakthrough Near

National Journal reports that, “In a season of political gridlock, a breakthrough could be near on legislation to promote energy production off the nation’s coastlines. A bipartisan energy bill now being crafted in the Senate could hit a sweet spot between expanding offshore oil and gas drilling, which many Republicans want, and creating incentives for new offshore wind and tidal power, which many Democrats want. It could also create a new source of revenue for the nation’s 24 coastal states—a tempting prospect for many cash-strapped state governments. The bill is being written by Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Democratic Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ron Wyden of Oregon, the new chairman of the Senate Energy panel.”