Reversing course, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is planning energy legislation that may allow oil and gas drilling in new areas off the U. S. coast, according to a House Democratic leadership aide.

Pelosi, D-Calif., is open to considering energy exploration on the outer continental shelf as part of a broader package of measures to address rising energy costs, the aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Details haven’t been worked out, the aide said.

Pelosi rejected holding a vote on drilling before the House adjourned for its five-week recess on Aug. 1. In a CNN “Larry King Live” interview Monday night, she said “we can have a vote” on offshore drilling, “but it has to be part of something that says we want to bring immediate relief to the public and not just a hoax on them.”

Among other provisions, Pelosi said she would like a requirement that electricity be produced from renewable sources such as wind and solar energy and the release of some oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve as an immediate brake on prices.

Democrats have been under increasing pressure to allow offshore drilling as gasoline prices have risen over $4 a gallon.

Americans are famous for a lack of concern on some issues.  Now that the price of gas is sliding downward, will the vote be necessary?  Or wanted at all?