President Joe Biden has announced a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along most of the U.S. coastline to protect 625 million acres of the ocean from environmental and economic risks. This move is aimed at safeguarding his climate legacy from potential policy changes by Republicans. Biden will use a provision of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw unleased lands from drilling indefinitely. This decision, larger than Obama’s in 2016, is a win for environmental groups advocating against further drilling. The president believes drilling off the coasts poses irreversible damage and is unnecessary for the nation’s energy needs. The announcement frustrates Trump’s plans for increased oil and gas production. The ban covers the entire eastern U.S. Atlantic coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico, areas previously of interest to oil companies. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland praised Biden’s action as part of efforts to protect coastlines from unnecessary drilling. Biden stressed the importance of protecting the environment while growing the economy and ensuring energy security. The decision reflects the lessons learned from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Biden’s administration aims to make enduring changes to support resilient oceans and coastlines. The ban is supported by states, tribes, and local communities concerned about the impact of oil and gas drilling. Biden’s decision adds to the 670 million acres of ocean protected under his administration, the most by any president.
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Biden prohibits new offshore drilling in majority of U.S. coastal areas
