Hi RJ,
Yesterday, the Department of the Interior announced they will release a proposed program for federal offshore leasing by the end of next month. While this might seem like a big win, Interior remains significantly behind in a years-long process and is far from holding any offshore lease sales that are critical for domestic production. Here’s what the American Petroleum Institute’s Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola had to say about the announcement:
“Today’s announcement from the Department of the Interior confirms they are significantly behind in this multi-year process and will release a proposed program by June 30 – the day they should be finalizing it. The practical effect of this is that it is unlikely there will be offshore lease sales before the end of 2023. This is one more example of the disconnect between the administration’s political rhetoric and policy reality. As energy prices and geopolitical volatility continue to rise, we urge the administration to end the continued mixed signals on energy policy and remove regulatory hurdles that are hindering American producers’ ability to increase supply and meet the growing energy demand.”
DOI should be releasing a final program next month, but instead they will release an incomplete draft that will require lengthy public comment periods and reviews. This is yet another attempt to use bureaucracy as a stalling tactic. Energy Citizens like you have made a difference in pressuring the Administration to move forward with a 5-year offshore lease program. But this is just the first step. Opportunities for public comment are coming and we will let you know how to make your voices heard.
API and NOIA released an analysis recently explaining how a lapse in the 5-year program could jeopardize American energy security, cost thousands of jobs and billions in lost state and local revenues. View the fact sheet here.
Sincerely,
The Energy Citizens Team
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