News bites: Thirsty for oil

A bill to expand offshore drilling sponsored by House Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) would force the federal government to make drilling decisions before conducting environmental reviews, a witness testified Tuesday at a hearing for a subpanel of the committee. The Houston Chronicle has the story here.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg floated a long-term plan to protect his city from climate change, MSNBC reports.

{mosads}British oil giant BP gave its annual energy market outlook on Tuesday. The prognosis? There’s lot of fossil fuels to be had, but in different places and landscapes than usual, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Exxon Mobil Corp. is putting down $200 million for a Russian Arctic research center to assists its drilling operations there, the Houston Chronicle reports.