President Joe Biden has announced a significant move to block all future offshore oil and natural gas drilling along the U.S. East and West Coasts, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s North Bering Sea. This action, taken under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, prohibits drilling in over 625 million acres of U.S. ocean territory and is aimed at protecting the environment and coastal communities from the potential hazards of oil drilling.
In a statement, President Biden emphasized that the decision is crucial for the health of coastal ecosystems, noting the irreversible damage drilling could cause to areas beloved by millions of Americans. He expressed that this action aligns with the needs of the nation, saying, “We do not need to choose between protecting the environment and growing our economy… Those are false choices.”
This ban, which carries no expiration date, will prevent any future oil and natural gas leasing in the designated areas. The Biden administration also highlighted that this action marks a historic step in conservation efforts, with the president on track to have protected more lands and waters than any other U.S. president in history.
The move comes amid ongoing debates on energy policy, especially as President-elect Donald Trump has continued to advocate for increased drilling efforts, including his “drill, baby, drill” stance, which aims to lower energy costs by expanding oil production.
Biden’s decision is a clear reflection of his administration’s commitment to prioritizing environmental protection over the expansion of fossil fuel extraction, signaling a stark contrast in energy policies between the two political leaders.
