Biden bans new offshore drilling in federal waters
US President Joe Biden has initiated a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across most US federal waters, aiming to preempt potential efforts by the incoming Trump administration to expand such drilling, reports AP.
Utilizing the authority of the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Biden's move protects offshore regions along the East and West Coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska's Northern Bering Sea from future oil and gas leasing.
Biden, whose term concludes in two weeks, explained that this decision aligns with the values of coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers who recognise the irreversible damage offshore drilling could cause and its limited necessity for meeting energy demands. He emphasised the urgency of protecting these areas as part of the transition to a clean energy economy amid the climate crisis.
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The ban does not apply to large portions of the Gulf of Mexico, where the majority of US offshore drilling occurs, but it safeguards coastlines in California, Florida, and other states. Biden's action, which shields over 625 million acres of federal waters, would likely require congressional action to be reversed, presenting challenges for President-elect Donald Trump, who has a mixed history on offshore drilling. While Trump initially sought to expand offshore drilling, he later prohibited it in certain areas, such as Florida's coasts, following public opposition.
Environmental groups welcomed Biden's decision, viewing it as crucial for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing global warming. Joseph Gordon of Oceana lauded the action as a "victory" for oceans and coastal communities, highlighting the economic and environmental importance of protecting these areas.
Biden stated that the protected areas offer minimal fossil fuel potential and that the risks to public health, the environment, and the economy outweigh the benefits of new drilling. However, a Trump spokesperson criticised the move, accusing Biden of driving up gas prices and pledging to reverse the decision.
Balancing competing interests, Biden has proposed limited oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico while excluding Alaska, navigating demands from both energy companies and environmental activists. A five-year drilling plan approved in 2023 includes three proposed offshore sales in 2025, 2027, and 2029, the minimum required under a 2022 climate law to facilitate offshore wind development.
Biden's efforts to curtail offshore drilling follow prior actions to restrict drilling in Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, even as his approval of the Willow oil project in Alaska faced backlash from environmental advocates.
