According to CNN, President Biden’s January 6 executive order bans the leasing of new oil and gas projects in 625 million acres (more than 2.5 million km) of sea.2) administered by the United States in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The ban will prevent oil and gas companies from leasing US waters for new drilling and oil and gas exploitation.
President Joe Biden signed a law on January 5 at the White House
“My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling for oil on these shores could cause irreversible damage to our beloved place and is not necessary to meet our country’s energy needs. It is not worth the risk,” Mr. Biden said.
The executive order was issued under the Expanded Continental Shelf Act of 1953, which allows the president to block new oil and gas leasing and development in federal waters. The law does not give the president explicit authority to reverse this decision, meaning President-elect Donald Trump will need congressional support if he wants to undo his predecessor’s actions.
“It’s ridiculous. I will lift that ban immediately,” Mr. Trump said in an interview on January 6.
Ms. Harris announced Mr. Trump’s election results in Congress
Mr. Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the ban was “a shameful decision designed as political revenge against the American people who gave President Trump orders to increase oil drilling and reduce gas prices.” .
Mr. Ron Neal, Chairman of the Offshore Projects Committee of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), criticized President Biden’s decision as having a huge and disastrous impact. “It’s a major attack on the oil and natural gas industry,” Mr. Neal said.
General Director Mike Sommers of the American Petroleum Institute (API) criticized President Biden for using the last days of his term to limit domestic energy development, contrary to the support of American voters in the election. . “We urge policymakers to use every tool at their disposal to reverse this politically motivated decision and restore an America-friendly energy approach to federal leasing.” “, Mr. Sommers said.
Energy analysts say the ban will not have a major impact on US oil exploration, exploitation and production. Energy analyst Tom Kloza at oil price information company Oil Price Information Service noted that there are many offshore rigs operating in the Gulf of Mexico and new projects often take 6-8 years to become operational.
Despite environmental commitments, US oil production under Mr. Biden’s administration has set a new record and the US produces more than any other country in history, according to CNN.
