In their third and final presidential debate, Barack Obama and John McCain batted their plans back and forth on environmental issues like oil dependence and climate change, but didn’t offer too many new ideas. (Grist — Kate Sheppard)

The New York Times bashes Congress’ fixation on looking for short-term solutions to high gas prices and pushes policymakers to do more to encourage the production of renewable energy.

Examining the implications of the financial crisis and the opportunities for recovery, commentator James K. Galbraith argues that the United States can go after a vast unmet need in our economy by building a program of “energy conservation, reconstruction and renewable power.” (Washington Post)

Continuing their gradual shift on offshore drilling, House Democrats are now pushing a bill to open up U.S. coastlines to oil exploration. (New York Times — Carle Hulse)

Matt Simmons, one of the world’s leading oil analysts and a lifelong Republican, talks about peak oil and describes his party’s presidential candidate as “energy illiterate.” (Fortune Magazine — Brian O’Keefe)

Led by speaker Nancy Pelosi, the U.S. House approves a bill to allow drilling 100 miles off the east and west coasts — as close as 50 miles with states’ permission — while taxing oil companies and promoting investment in renewable energy. (Boston Globe — Lisa Wangsness)

A new energy bill unveiled by House Democrats allows for new offshore drilling, extend tax credits for the production of renewable energy, and tightens a few screws on big oil companies. (Grist — Kate Sheppard)

Citing the importance of energy issues this election season, USA Today walks through the positions of Barack Obama and John McCain on gas prices, drilling, climate change, and other major topics. (Paul Davidson and Barbara Hagenbaugh)

With transit agencies across the country dealing with booming ridership and exploding costs, Congress is looking to include funding for mass transit — and help reduce dependence on foreign oil — in its next energy bill. (Wall Street Journal — Christopher Conkey)

Thanks to a media drumbeat and political grandstanding, 51 percent of Americans believe that drilling would immediately bring down gas prices — while the country’s own energy department says that it would not have a significant impact before 2030. (Los Angeles Times — Geoffrey Mohan)