Media: Biden to ban new offshore oil drilling in major stretch of US waters

President Joe Biden is set to announce a ban on new offshore oil and gas development across approximately 625 million acres of US coastal waters, which includes the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The move is aimed at protecting the environment and coastal communities from the risks associated with oil spills and fossil fuel extraction, Caliber.Az reports referencing foreign media.

While the ban will apply to new drilling in these regions, Biden plans to keep the option open for new oil and natural gas leasing in the central and western Gulf of Mexico, which have been part of ongoing drilling operations for decades. This area currently contributes around 14% of the nation's oil and gas production.

The decision, expected to be made official on January 6, further solidifies Biden’s commitment to addressing climate change and preserving natural resources. It follows a series of last-minute actions by the White House to ensure environmental protections are in place before the end of Biden's presidency.

Unlike other recent efforts by Biden to limit fossil fuel development, this new ban could have long-lasting effects, making it more challenging for future administrations to reverse. Biden is using a 72-year-old federal law that grants presidents the authority to withdraw US waters from oil leasing, a power invoked by past presidents from both parties, including Donald Trump.

Biden’s move comes in response to pressure from environmental groups and congressional Democrats, who have long advocated for the protection of marine ecosystems and coastal communities from the dangers of offshore drilling. The proclamation would also have the potential to protect vulnerable areas that have previously received bipartisan support for conservation.

The ban will not impact drilling on existing leases but would ensure that future oil and gas reserves in the eastern Gulf and southern Pacific remain untouched. While environmentalists see the move as a victory for ocean conservation, oil industry groups argue that it undermines US energy independence, particularly at a time when demand for electricity is expected to surge due to growing industries like data centres and AI.

Joseph Gordon, a campaign director at the environmental group Oceana, praised the decision, calling it an "epic ocean victory" and a continuation of the tradition of bipartisan support for coastal protection. However, the American Petroleum Institute criticized the move, claiming it harms U.S. energy production and the economy.

While the Biden administration's action is expected to stand, the decision could be reversed by a future president, as Donald Trump previously attempted to undo Barack Obama’s oil leasing protections, a move that was blocked by federal courts in 2019. Some of the areas Biden is targeting overlap with regions Trump had temporarily withdrawn from leasing during his presidency, although those withdrawals are set to expire in 2032.

By Tamilla Hasanova