Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Department of the Interior released a proposed five-year plan for offshore drilling. The proposal includes three lease sales in 2025, 2027, and 2029. According to an administration press release, the proposed list of lease sales is the smallest possible the Biden Administration could offer while remaining in compliance with the Inflation Reduction Act’s requirements to enable the Interior Department to continue to expand its offshore wind leasing program through 2030.
Contrary to the fossil fuel industry’s alarmist claims, new research shows that eliminating new oil and gas leasing would not meaningfully impact energy prices.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“While President Biden correctly only offered the smallest possible proposed leasing program, even one sale is one too many. Communities in the central and western Gulf are on the frontlines of climate change, offshore drilling disasters, and the pollution caused by extractive activities. Further leasing only furthers the threats to their homes, their health, and their future. At a time when we should be rapidly moving away from fossil fuels to meet our climate commitments and avert the worst effects of the climate crisis, issuing more oil and gas leases is the last thing we should be doing. Congress must fix these statutory mistakes and end new offshore drilling once and for all."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.