"House Passes Quartet of Energy Bills, But Senate Prospects Dim"

"The House by a wide margin [Thursday] night passed a bill to vastly expand oil and gas development off the nation's coasts, in an Alaskan reserve and on experimental shale tracts in the Intermountain West."

"The 187-137 vote also for the third time advanced a GOP plan to force approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which President Obama tentatively rejected earlier this year.

The package was opposed by 21 Republicans, but it also drew 21 'aye' votes from Democrats.

But questions remain over how the proposal will fare in the Democrat-controlled Senate, which has already balked at earlier Keystone and offshore drilling proposals from the House."

Phil Taylor reports for E&E Daily February 17, 2012.