RALEIGH, N.C. — Sen. Elizabeth Dole says she now supports lifting oil exploration off North Carolina's coast, backing away from her long-held support of a 27-year-old federal moratorium on Atlantic drilling.

"Now, more than ever, responsible and practical steps are needed to increase our energy independence and strengthen economic and national security," Dole said in a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press.

The Republican, facing re-election for the first time, said the option should be available to states so long as the exploration is safe, clean and not visible from land.

She plans to sign on to a GOP measure allowing states to open areas at least 50 miles off their shorelines to exploration that could bring in extra revenue for the states.

For years, Dole had supported the ban on oil exploration, saying it was necessary to protect tourism and marine habitat.

"There is no question that now, more than ever, we must work to end our dependence on foreign oil," Dole said in a 2005 floor speech. "But we cannot do so by ignoring the wishes and economic needs of the majority of the people of North Carolina, and many other coastal states, who oppose this exploration."

But as gas prices have passed $4 a gallon, Dole has increasingly softened her stance on offshore exploration.

"With the price of gasoline so high – at the time that I took my position earlier, I think it was $1.40, back in 2002. And today, of course, it's over $4 a gallon," Dole told WRAL News Thursday.

"And the technology has improved so much, as well, that I cannot, in good conscience, continue with a moratorium with the situation having changed so enormously over these years."

She said at a forum with Democratic rival Kay Hagan last weekend that she still opposed the idea but would consider a measure if it came across her desk. Hagan, like fellow Democrats in Congress, opposes the offshore drilling plan.

Republicans, including presidential candidate John McCain, have said offshore drilling could help the nation ease its dependence on foreign oil and provide short-term relief to gas prices. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has opposed the idea.

The Interior Department estimates that opening remaining U.S. coastal waters could provide access to 18 billion barrels of oil and 77 trillion cubic feet of natural gas beneath the 574 million acres.

Experts believe, however, that it could take years before production begins. Leasing likely wouldn't begin until 2012 for the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the product wouldn't significantly affect production or prices before 2030, according to a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration last year.

Gov. Mike Easley said last week he foresees a "very poor" chance that North Carolina would move to allow offshore drilling if the federal ban were lifted.