Offshore oil and the Carolina coast
High oil prices have pushed the controversial ban on offshore drilling to the forefront. President Bush has lifted the moratorium, Congress and individual states will need to do the same. As is typical, the political parties are split on the issue.
But don't expect to see large oil and gas platforms off the Carolina coast in the next few days or any immediate relief to prices at the pump since the first oil to be discovered won't come online for many years.
In fact, you're not likely to even see the platforms, proposed to be built over 50 miles from the shore addressing a concern that tourism will suffer as a result. I love the beach as much as anyone but I'm not sure that even someone with "eyes like an eagle" will be able to see the platform while sitting on the sand in beaches up and down the coast. As to environmental concerns, frankly, I'm just not educated enough to comment about the potential impact on the subject.