Last week, in a post called “Coming Controversies,” I wrote, “…now it seems likely that drilling up and down the Atlantic and Pacific coasts will become part of our energy debate, no doubt due to the rising cost of gasoline.” The evidence was the news that industry coalitions were coming to town to push the issue.

Via Iain Murray in The Corner we learn that the House Appropriations Committee took up the issue, passing an amendment that

…strips away a longstanding congressional prohibition against offshore natural gas exploration. This is great news for consumers as it will increase energy security and probably pave the way to the lowering of natural gas prices.

Can oil exploration be far behind?