Obama shifts energy policy

Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.: As the Obama administration opens parts of the East Coast to energy exploration, let’s hope the president keeps those words in mind.

President Barack Obama has generally been opposed to offshore drilling, and the move is seen as a concession to Republicans as the president tries to craft a comprehensive energy bill that focuses on renewable energy.

Even those who support offshore drilling will find little in this bill to get excited about. The areas being opened for drilling — including waters off North Carolina — are not especially promising. For example, the tracts opened off Virginia are estimated to hold 130 million barrels of oil. That’s how much the U.S. imports from all foreign suppliers in two weeks. ...

In North Carolina, the most likely sites for exploration are off the Outer Banks region, which is almost completely reliant on tourism and is home to an especially fragile ecosystem and a large commercial and recreational fishing industry.