Biden’s Block on Public Lands Fossil Fuel Leasing is a Reprieve for Californians, Climate

California— Today, the Biden administration announced a pause on new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. The order commences a review of existing leases and permits, and looks to increase offshore wind renewable energy development. The administration has directed agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies and to instead identify new opportunities to spur clean energy. In California, the announcement comes just one month after the Trump administration’s Bureau of Land Management sold over 4000 acres in Kern County for oil drilling and fracking— the first oil and gas lease sale in over eight years. Read about the executive order here.

In response to the announcement, representatives of organizations as well as community activists released the following statements:

“We support the Biden administration's ban on new oil and gas leasing on public lands. We need policies that lead us to a safer and more livable environment for all Americans, but especially for those of us who live, study and work in areas disproportionately harmed by fossil fuel extraction and pollution. It is clear we cannot wait any longer. We are choking from wildfire smoke, and thousands of oil rigs and storage tanks in our backyards are leaking and poisoning us with benzene," said Cesar Aguirre, Community Organizer with the Central California Environmental Justice Network. "For too long, our residents in Kern County have been the target of irresponsible administrations— both federal and local— that deny the climate crisis and continue gambling our health on the fossil fuel industry. For California to be a climate leader, we need and encourage this bold action to prevent more fossil fuel destruction.” 

"Oil and gas development on federal lands is already a major contributor to climate change. The Biden administration’s ban is an important first step and should result in a permanent end to federal leasing,” said Rebecca August, Director of Advocacy at Los Padres ForestWatch. “Putting the brakes on selling out our shared resources to the oil industry—lands that are supposed to be managed in the public interest—is a sign that the administration is serious in its commitment to put our nation's future, public health, biodiversity, drinking water, and the legacy of our public lands before corporate profit.”

“We hope that by this action, President Biden will do more to advocate for clean energy and combat climate change. Our communities can no longer withstand the detrimental effects of climate change and the oil companies’ persistent attacks on our communities,” said Samuel Molina, California state director of Mi Familia Vota. “We must do more for our children and ensure they grow up in a future where they can breathe clean air, drink clean water and enjoy clean food.” 

“We are encouraged that the Biden administration has moved to halt new oil and gas leasing on public lands— a decision that will benefit the health of communities, wild places and the climate in California and beyond. Our state has seen climate devastation on an alarming and unprecedented scale over the past years, and needs urgent action to make public lands a part of the solution. Stopping new drilling and fracking on public lands will provide a much-needed step in tackling the climate crisis,” said Jenny Binstock, Senior Campaign Representative for Sierra Club’s Our Wild America Campaign in California.

“California should follow the path of our newly-elected President Biden and support a halt on oil and gas leasing with no exceptions. Quality of life and health must be a priority in our progressive state,” said Rosanna Esparza, Central Valley Gerontologist and Activist, Ph.D. “It’s critical we institute buffer zones between oil and gas production areas and sensitive places like schools, hospitals, nursing homes, daycare facilities and recreation areas. Instead of allowing loopholes for corporate polluters to avoid toxic-waste clean-ups and issuing them government grants intended for small businesses, the fossil fuel industry must be held accountable for the damage and destruction inflicted on our communities.”

“This is a historic step forward in addressing the climate crisis,” said Clare Lakewood, Legal Director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute. “It also protects our precious federal wildlands from destructive oil and gas operations. We applaud President Biden for this critical pause in oil and gas leasing and look forward to it being made permanent.”

“This decision will provide a significant reprieve for national parks directly adjacent to public lands that have been targeted by polluters,” said Mark Rose, Sierra Nevada Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association. “Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon already have some of the worst air quality of any parks in the nation and cannot afford additional drilling nearby.”