US President Joe Biden is set to ban new offshore oil and gas development along most US coastlines. This decision aligns with his efforts to combat climate change and conserve 30% of US lands and waters by 2030. The ban affects approximately 625 million acres of ocean, covering zones where drilling has no important prospects.
The move does not impact areas where oil and gas development is currently underway. According to the White House, Biden will use his authority under the 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect federal waters off the East and West coasts, as well as portions of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska.
Biden cited the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as a reason for the ban. He stated that drilling in these areas poses significant risks to public health and the economy, despite low drilling potential.
The US is currently the world’s top oil and gas producer due to increased production from states like Texas and New Mexico.
Environmental groups welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for Americans who depend on clean coastlines and fisheries.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/biden-ban-offshore-oil-gas-drilling-vast-areas-ahead-trump-term-2025-01-06