Offshore Drilling Halted Across 250 Million Hectares
The United States is taking a historic step to curb offshore oil and gas exploitation. Outgoing President Joe Biden has enacted a permanent ban on new offshore drilling in 250 million hectares of federal waters, spanning the Atlantic coastline, much of the Pacific coast (off Washington, Oregon, and California), the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and portions of the northern Bering Sea. This sweeping decision covers an area eight times the size of Italy.
According to a White House statement, “President Biden has determined that the environmental and economic risks posed by offshore drilling in these areas far outweigh the limited potential of fossil fuel resources.”
The Balance Between Protection and Energy Development
While the ban safeguards vast coastal ecosystems, it leaves the western and central sections of the Gulf of Mexico—responsible for 14% of the nation’s oil and gas output—unaffected. These areas remain critical for maintaining the United States’ position as the world’s largest hydrocarbon producer.
The move also seeks to strike a balance between environmental protection and commitments to renewable energy development. Under the 2022 climate legislation, the federal government is required to auction at least 24 million hectares of oil and gas leases before awarding offshore wind concessions. To meet this requirement, Biden proposed three new lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, scheduled for 2025, 2027, and 2029.
Legal Grounding and Political Challenges
Will Biden’s policy withstand a potential rollback by Trump, known for championing fossil fuel expansion? During his first term, Trump attempted to overturn Obama-era drilling bans but was blocked by federal courts.
This time, Biden’s order invokes the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, granting the President significant authority to restrict federal waters from future oil and gas leasing. By leveraging this legal foundation, the administration aims to make the ban more resistant to legal and political challenges.