U.S. energy

WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama will allow drilling for oil and natural gas off sections of the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico and in northern Alaska.

While not a complete opening to offshore drilling, the decision is a policy shift and is aimed at winning political capital to expend for more far-reaching climate measures in the U.S. Congress while perhaps taking in money from sales of offshore leases and easing dependence on foreign sources of energy.

Obama is expected to open the East Coast from central Florida to New Jersey, a small area under the Gulf of Mexico and offshore areas north of Alaska to drilling for oil and natural gas. It would be years before production would begin, however. Even lease sales are at least two years off.

The West Coast of the United States and the Bristol Bay area in Alaska would still be barred from such development.

Obama's overall energy program announcement also is to signal a greater use of hybrid vehicles by government agencies and biofuels in military vehicles.