President Joe Biden has banned new offshore oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. waters. The decision, enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, restricts future leases along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea.

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

Energy

Biden bans new offshore drilling along most US coasts

Yesterday

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

President Joe Biden banned new offshore oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. waters. The decision, enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, restricts future leases along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea.

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Biden cited risks to public health, the environment and local economies, pointing to disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

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The decision supports federal goals to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and expand renewable energy projects.

Protected Areas

The plan includes:

Atlantic Coast and Eastern Gulf of Mexico: 334 million acres, preserving tourism and fishing industries.
Pacific Coast: 250 million acres, protecting marine habitats.
Northern Bering Sea in Alaska: 44 million acres, vital to Indigenous communities and local ecosystems.

Policy and Responses

The Biden administration said the ban addresses areas with limited fossil fuel potential while mitigating risks. Past restrictions under the act have been legally upheld, making reversals difficult without congressional action.

Environmental groups praised the move, citing its benefits to coastal communities. The oil and gas industry, however, argued the decision undermines U.S. energy independence and called on Congress to intervene.

This ban builds on earlier Biden administration efforts to limit Arctic drilling and expand offshore wind projects. Limited leasing in the Gulf of Mexico continues as required under federal law.

Tags: Alaska, Deep sea mining, Energy, Gulf of Mexico, Oil prices, Oil Supply, Renewable energy, U.S. Energy Department

[Craig Nigrelli]

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS BANNING NEW OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DRILLING IN OVER 625 MILLION ACRES OF OCEAN. BIDEN SAYING IN A STATEMENT MONDAY THE MOVE PROTECTS AREAS ALONG THE EAST AND WEST COASTS, THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO, AND PARTS OF ALASKA’S NORTHERN BERING SEA FROM QUOTE “DRILLING AND THE HARM IT CAN CAUSE.”.

THE PRESIDENT SAYS THE DECISION, MADE UNDER THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT, AIMS TO PREVENT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC RISKS OF OFFSHORE DRILLING WHILE SUPPORTING A SHIFT TO CLEANER ENERGY. BIDEN SAYS THE RISKS OF DRILLING OUTWEIGH ANY BENEFITS, POINTING TO PAST DISASTERS LIKE THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL.

THE DECISION ALIGNS WITH HIS ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MEET ITS CLIMATE-RELATED GOALS, INCLUDING CONSERVING 30% OF U.S. LANDS AND WATERS BY 2030.

THIS ACTION COMES JUST WEEKS BEFORE PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP TAKES OFFICE, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION MIGHT TRY TO REVERSE IT. EXPERTS SAY THAT COULD BE TOUGH WITHOUT CONGRESS STEPPING IN.

HERE’S WHAT’S COVERED, ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE:

ATLANTIC COAST AND EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO: 334 MILLION ACRES PROTECTED, “HELPING PRESERVE FISHING AND TOURISM.”

PACIFIC COAST: 250 MILLION ACRES OFF CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON, “PROTECTING MARINE HABITATS.”

NORTHERN BERING SEA IN ALASKA: 44 MILLION ACRES “CRITICAL TO ALASKA NATIVE TRIBES AND LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS.”

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE CELEBRATING THE MOVE, CALLING IT A WIN FOR CLEAN COASTLINES AND COMMUNITIES. MEANWHILE, OIL AND GAS ADVOCATES ARGUE IT COULD HURT ENERGY SECURITY AND ARE PUSHING FOR CONGRESS TO STEP IN.

BIDEN’S ADMINISTRATION PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED LIMITED OIL AND GAS LEASING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO TO COMPLY WITH EXISTING LAWS BUT CONTINUES TO PRIORITIZE RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS.

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