Sen. Ben Nelson sagely pointed the way to the political center again last week when he and others in the “Gang of Ten” unveiled compromise energy legislation.

His stubborn colleagues on both sides of the oil ought to pay attention. Ideologues have had their day. They’ve produced nothing but impasse and standoff. It’s time for practical minds to take over.

Essentially the plan would loosen the federal moratorium on offshore oil drilling and end a tax break for oil companies.

The plan has merit. Technological advances have reduced environmental risks since Congress passed the offshore ban in 1981. In addition, the industry has posted a good record in the intervening period.

The draft legislation would allow oil companies to drill within 50 miles of Florida’s gulf coast, as well as off the coasts of Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, if those states agree.

The ban on drilling off the West Coast would continue, as would the ban on drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge.

The $84 billion Energy Reform Act proposed by the Gang of Ten calls for 85 percent of new vehicles to be powered by non-petroleum fuels within 20 years.

The legislation would give consumers a $7,500 tax credit to purchase an electric or fuel-cell vehicle, and a $2,500 credit to retrofit their current vehicles into plug-in hybrids.The ethanol industry would receive $2.5 billion in new research money to create more efficient biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol currently being studied at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and elsewhere.

Costs of the legislation would be paid by excluding oil companies from tax credits that apply to other manufacturers.

“Frankly, there was a lot of dispute at the time it was granted to them,” said sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. “Circumstances have changed. With oil at these levels, we don’t think that manufacturers’ credit is necessary to encourage them to explore and produce oil and gas.”

At a time when ExxonMobil turned an $11.7 billion profit for the second quarter — the biggest in U.S. history — Conrad makes a valid point.

The energy proposal is not the first time that Nelson has been linked with gang activity in the Senate. Three years ago he joined the “Gang of 14” in ending an impasse over judicial nominees.

Nelson said he thinks there is a very good likelihood that when senators return to their districts and listen to constituents, they’ll find that “people will not accept delay” until after the November election.

He’s right about that. Voters are tired on unfilled promises. No sooner is one election over than the parties start jockeying for the next. Nelson’s bipartisan effort to formulate an energy policy is appreciated.