WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has taken steps to prohibit new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters as a precautionary measure to prevent potential expansion of offshore drilling under the incoming Trump administration. Biden, whose term is coming to an end in two weeks, has invoked his authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to safeguard offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. “My decision is a response to the concerns voiced by coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers about the irreversible harm that drilling off these coasts could cause to our beloved places, all while being unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs,” Biden stated. He emphasized the urgent need to protect these coastlines for future generations in the face of the ongoing climate crisis and the transition to a clean energy economy. The President’s orders would not impact the significant portions of the Gulf of Mexico where most U.S. offshore drilling occurs but would shield coastlines in states like California and Florida from future drilling activities. This move by Biden, safeguarding more than 625 million acres of federal waters, could pose challenges for President-elect Donald Trump to reverse, as it may necessitate congressional action to repeal. Trump himself has had a mixed track record on offshore drilling, initially pushing for expansion before later backing down due to opposition in states like Florida. Trump’s focus has been on promoting American “energy dominance” globally through increased oil and gas drilling, diverging from Biden’s climate change priorities. Environmental advocates have praised Biden’s action, highlighting the need to limit new oil and gas drilling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming. Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the environmental group Oceana, hailed Biden’s decision as an “epic ocean victory,” acknowledging the significance of protecting coastal communities and ecosystems. Biden’s move aligns with the bipartisan efforts of past presidents to shield coastal waters from offshore drilling, recognizing the economic and environmental value of U.S. coastlines. In justifying his decision, Biden emphasized the minimal potential benefits of drilling in the areas he is withdrawing from fossil fuel use compared to the potential risks to the environment, public health, and economy. A spokeswoman for Trump criticized Biden’s actions, accusing him of seeking higher gas prices as his legacy, while asserting that the Trump administration will continue to prioritize drilling activities.
President Biden has put forth a plan that could see up to three oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, with none slated for Alaska, as he looks to strike a balance between the demands of energy companies pushing for increased production and environmental advocates urging him to halt new offshore drilling in the battle against climate change. The proposed five-year drilling strategy, endorsed in 2023, lays out potential offshore sales in the years 2025, 2027, and 2029. These three lease sales represent the minimum required by law for the Democratic administration to offer should it wish to continue expanding offshore wind projects.
In compliance with a climate law instituted in 2022, the government is mandated to make available no less than 60 million acres (24.2 million hectares) of offshore oil and gas leases within a single year before it can proceed with offering offshore wind leases. President Biden, whose recent approval of the massive Willow oil venture in Alaska was met with fierce opposition from environmental organizations, has previously imposed constraints on offshore drilling in various parts of Alaska and the Arctic Ocean.
