WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson will visit eight cities across Nebraska this week to talk about a bipartisan energy effort.

Nelson, a Democrat, and nine other senators say they’re trying to address the nation’s energy problem.

The so-called Gang of 10 plan would lift drilling bans in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but retain an environmental buffer zone extending 50 miles off Florida’s beaches and in the south Atlantic off Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. The states would have to agree to the oil and gas development along its coastline, and they would share in the revenues.

Nelson will be in eight cities on Tuesday and Wednesday, including South Sioux City, Ainsworth, Chadron, Omaha, Trenton, Hastings, Lincoln and Mead.