Experts sound alarm on Biden’s offshore drilling ban having reverse effect on environment: ‘Disgraceful’

President Biden’s recent executive action to ban new drilling and further oil and natural gas development in coastal waters has sparked controversy among experts who believe that the environment could end up being harmed rather than protected. The ban, which affects over 625 million acres of U.S. coastal and offshore waters, was announced earlier this month and invoked the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, making it difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to revoke the action without Congress.

In a statement defending his decision, President Biden argued that the limited fossil fuel potential in the affected areas does not justify the potential environmental, public health, and economic risks associated with new leasing and drilling. However, experts have raised concerns about the unintended consequences of the ban.

Gabriella Hoffman, Director of the Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy & Conservation, expressed worries about the impact on conservation efforts, specifically pointing to the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which relies heavily on royalties from oil and gas companies. Hoffman warned that the fund could lose out on crucial funding as a result of Biden’s decision.

The Western Energy Alliance, a nonprofit trade association, also raised concerns about the ban’s impact on conservation funding, highlighting the importance of offshore revenues in supporting various outdoor projects and initiatives across the country. President Biden’s executive order has put these projects at risk, according to Kathleen Sgamma, President of the Alliance.

While the Department of the Interior reassured that existing leases and royalties derived from them would not be affected by the ban, Hoffman pointed out that the long-term impact could jeopardize $2.8 billion of conservation funding, including $900 million from offshore royalties.

Moreover, cutting oil drilling in the United States could lead to increased dependence on foreign sources of oil, potentially from countries with lower environmental standards. Daniel Turner, Founder and Executive Director of Power The Future, raised concerns about driving responsible resource development overseas, where environmental and human rights standards may be lacking.

Turner emphasized the importance of producing energy and mining raw materials domestically to uphold environmental, economic, and national security interests. He questioned the environmental impact of importing oil produced irresponsibly in foreign countries, highlighting the need for ethical and responsible resource development in the United States.

President Trump has indicated plans to reverse the drilling ban along most of the U.S. coastline, but he may face challenges due to the irrevocable nature of the law invoked by President Biden. Despite the ongoing debate, the future of offshore drilling and conservation funding remains uncertain in light of Biden’s executive action.