Biden, in 11th hour action, bans new offshore oil and gas drilling in most federal waters
WASHINGTON — President Biden is moving to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S.coastal waters, a last-minute effort to block possible action by the incoming Trump administration to expand offshore drilling.Biden, whose term expires in two weeks, said he is using authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing.“My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs,” Biden said in a statement.“As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren,” he said.Biden’s orders would not affect large swaths of the Gulf of Mexico, where most U.S.
offshore drilling occurs, but it would protect coastlines along California, Florida and other states from future drilling.Biden’s actions, which protect more than 625 million acres of federal waters, could be difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to unwind, since they would likely require an act of Congress to repeal.Trump himself has a complicated history on offshore drilling.
He signed a memorandum in 2020 directing the Interior secretary to prohibit drilling in the waters off both Florida coasts, and off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina until 2032.The action came after Trump initially moved to vastly expand offshore drilling, before retreating amid widespread opposition in Florida and other coastal states.Trump has vowed to establish what he calls American “energy dominance” around the world as he seeks to boost U.S.oil and gas drilling and move away from Biden’s ...