Biden to Ban New Oil Drilling Over Vast Stretch of US Atlantic, Pacific Waters

Washington: President Biden is gearing up to announce a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across a massive area of about 625 million acres. This includes parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico. It’s a big move aimed at protecting our coastal waters and the communities that rely on them.

This decision is all about keeping fossil fuels at bay and reducing the risk of oil spills. While Biden is shutting the door on new drilling in these areas, he’s still leaving the option open for oil and gas leasing in parts of the Gulf that have been drilled for years. This area currently provides around 14% of the country’s oil and gas production.

Set to be announced soon, this ban is a way for Biden to boost his climate credentials. It’s part of a broader effort to protect the environment before the next administration takes over. The White House hasn’t commented yet, but this move could complicate any plans from the next president to ramp up oil production.

What’s interesting is that Biden’s ban is based on a federal law that gives presidents the power to withdraw waters from oil leasing. This law has been used by past presidents from both parties to protect various marine areas. So, it’s not just a one-off decision; it’s rooted in a long-standing legal framework.

Environmental groups have been pushing for this kind of protection, wanting to safeguard coastal communities and marine ecosystems. Some activists are a bit worried, though, that a broad declaration might risk a legal tool that’s been used for conservation since the 1950s.

But this proclamation is a smart move. It protects certain areas from drilling while still allowing for oil production in regions that are already active. It won’t affect existing leases, and it keeps the door open for more lease sales in the Gulf, which could help raise revenue.

Environmentalists are celebrating this as a win, saying it prevents oil companies from tapping into reserves that have been eyeing for a long time. They believe this reflects a growing public interest in limiting offshore drilling.

On the flip side, oil industry advocates argue that this ban could limit the US’s energy potential, especially with rising electricity demands. They believe that developing offshore energy is crucial for economic activity and that US-produced oil is cleaner than oil from other countries.

Former President Trump could try to reverse this decision, just like he attempted to undo Obama’s protections. However, his previous attempts were blocked by the courts. Plus, some of the waters Biden is targeting overlap with areas Trump had previously withdrawn from drilling.