The American Power Act, a bill being introduced in the United States Senate this morning, will allow coastal states to opt out of offshore oil drilling up to 75 miles from their shores, reports The Sun Herald. States would also be able to veto drilling of nearby states if they can prove accidents would have a negative impact.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., co-sponsor of the bill with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said the Gulf oil spill emphasizes the country's need to break its addiction to fossil fuels.

"For climate, it's the bottom of the ninth inning and the bases are loaded if we can just push these runs across the plate," he said in a statement.

"People from across the ideological spectrum are standing by us, ready to line up in support of this plan. Any time you see me and T. Boone Pickens urging the Senate to pass something, you know it's a genuine effort to bridge the old divides," Kerry said.