Biden Ends Presidency How He Started It: Halting Oil Production
With two weeks left in office, President Joe Biden is ending his presidency the same way he started it: halting oil production. On Monday, he announced a ban on offshore oil and natural gas drilling in more than 625 million acres of federal waters—roughly as large as the land area of Alaska, Texas, and Montana combined. The order will not impact federal offshore drilling in most of the Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for about 15 percent of total U.S. oil production.
Using his statutory authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Biden has permanently halted oil and gas development along the entire U.S. East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico along Florida’s coast, and the Pacific Coast states of California, Oregon, and Washington. The order also closes off the remaining 44 million acres of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area in Northwest Alaska, which was created via executive order by Barack Obama in 2015 and reinstated by the Biden administration in 2021.Â
In a statement, Biden said, “In balancing the many uses and benefits of America’s ocean, it is clear to me that the relatively minimal fossil fuel potential in the areas I am withdrawing do not justify the environmental, public health, and economic risks that would come from new leasing and drilling.” It is true that in many of the affected areas, offshore drilling is already nonexistent. More than 10 states have banned or restricted drilling in their offshore waters. In states like North Carolina, public backlash and opposition from oceanfront communities have prevented projects from coming to fruition.
Biden also deemed the order as necessary to address climate change. Offshore drilling is often associated with catastrophes like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but it is not the environmental villain that some claim it to be. A 2023 report from the National Ocean Industries Association found offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to produce oil with a carbon inte
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
