Biden blocks some new offshore drilling ahead of Trump takeover

President Biden has blocked new offshore drilling for oil and gas in several parts of the country about two weeks before President-elect Trump takes office. 

Biden has announced that he’ll block new drilling off the entire East Coast, as well as California, Oregon and Washington state. The president’s move also blocks some drilling off Alaska’s coast in portions of the Northern Bering Sea and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

“Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks,” Biden said in a statement. 

“As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren,” he added. 

Biden’s effort does not target areas that are major hubs for fossil fuel development. The vast majority of U.S. offshore oil and gas production comes from the central and western Gulf of Mexico, which is unaffected by the move.

According to the Interior Department, industry activity in the area Biden blocked off has historically been “very low” and there is no active oil and gas exploration or production in the Atlantic.

Nevertheless, the effort could be an effort to prevent expansions from taking place under President-elect Trump, who has promised to promote domestic energy production and “drill baby drill.” 

And, oil industry groups blasted the decision, which represents the largest-ever area formally taken off the table for drilling by a president.

“American voters sent a clear message in support of domestic energy development, and yet the current administration is using its final days in office to cement a record of doing everything possible to restrict it,” said Mike Sommers, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas lobbying group. 

“We urge policymakers to use every tool at their disposal to reverse this politically motivated decision and restore a pro-American energy approach to federal leasing,” Sommers added. 

While Trump could try to reverse Biden’s move to protect more than 625 million acres, it’s not clear whether he would have success at doing so. 

During his first term, Trump tried to undo a similar move to protect certain areas from drilling issued under former President Obama, but was stopped by a judge, who ruled that the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, gives presidents the right to block drilling in certain areas but not to reinstate it. 

While Trump was largely supportive of oil and gas during his first term, he also blocked drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.