House Passes Offshore Energy Bill

The House approved a comprehensive energy package Tuesday that would allow states to permit oil and gas drilling 50 miles off the coast.

The House passed the bill, 236-189, largely along party lines.

In addition to repealing a 27-year-old congressional ban on offshore drilling, the legislation would rescind $18 billion in tax breaks and royalty relief for some of the biggest oil companies to fund incentives that seek to spur investment in renewable sources of energy.