Biden’s oil policy leaves a lasting impact on public lands

President Biden significantly reduced oil lease sales on federal lands, causing long-term effects on drilling despite not stopping it entirely.

Heather Richards reports for E&E News.

In short:

Biden cut new oil leases on federal lands by 95%, reducing future development.
New rules made drilling more costly, raising bond requirements to $150,000 per lease.
Despite the cutbacks, nearly 12,000 onshore wells were approved during Biden's tenure.

Key quote:

“The political campaign rhetoric met reality."

— Shannon Anderson, attorney with the Powder River Basin Resource Council.

Why this matters:

Biden's policies aim to decrease reliance on fossil fuels while balancing economic pressures. These changes will influence U.S. energy and environmental strategies for years to come.

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