President Joe Biden has struck again, this time ordering the cancelation of major offshore oil and gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico:
Biden administration stops sale of 3 off-shore oil, gas leases in Alaska, Gulf of Mexico https://t.co/ZwXZztfRUi
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 12, 2022
The one in Alaska, known as the Cook Inlet least, is particularly striking. With gas prices “hitting painful new highs,” does team Biden really care?
The Biden administration has canceled one of the most high-profile oil and gas lease opportunities pending before the Interior Department. The decision comes at a challenging political moment when gas prices are hitting painful new highs. https://t.co/9WzYVxEPYX
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 12, 2022
From CBS News:
The Biden administration has canceled one of the most high-profile oil and gas lease opportunities pending before the Interior Department. The decision, which halts the potential to drill for oil in over 1 million acres in the Cook Inlet in Alaska, comes at a challenging political moment, when gas prices are hitting painful new highs.
In a statement shared first with CBS News, the Department of the Interior cited a “lack of industry interest in leasing in the area” for the decision to “not move forward” with the Cook Inlet lease sale. The department also halted two leases under consideration for the Gulf of Mexico region because of “conflicting court rulings that impacted work on these proposed lease sales.”
Federal law requires the Department of the Interior to stick to a five-year leasing plan for auctioning offshore leases. The administration had until the end of the current five-year plan — set to expire at the end of next month — to complete these lease sales.
The Interior Department justified the move by citing a “lack of industry interest in leasing the area”:
The Interior Department cited a "lack of industry interest in leasing in the area" for the decision to "not move forward" with the Cook Inlet lease sale. https://t.co/QrwRwnmV0u
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 12, 2022
Or, and we’re just spitballing here, industry is afraid of what Biden’s real plans are for the off-shore leasing program?
The Biden administration is scrapping planned auctions of drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Cook Inlet — a move that deepens uncertainty over the future of the US government’s offshore oil leasing program https://t.co/LZBmgM3jeh
— Bloomberg Asia (@BloombergAsia) May 12, 2022
Money quote: “…canceling the sale would be in keeping with political promises President Joe Biden made in the name of halting global warming”:
“…canceling the sale would be in keeping with political promises President Joe Biden made in the name of halting global warming.”
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) May 12, 2022
Former Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter to hammer Biden on the decision.
“Gas Prices are the Highest Ever Recorded and the Biden administration cancels an Alaska oil and gas lease sale?” and “Unleash American Energy Joe,” he tweeted.
Gas Prices are the Highest Ever Recorded and the Biden administration cancels an Alaska oil and gas lease sale? This has got to stop. Unleash American Energy Joe!🇺🇸 https://t.co/pa6ai5sOW9
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) May 12, 2022
And Senator Ted Cruz noted this is NOT how you bring down inflation:
Because, you know, stopping inflation is his number one priority.
…as Biden said YESTERDAY. https://t.co/jb6zDbvThy
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 12, 2022
This could be true?
“Americans need to accept high gas prices or get an electric car”:
Biden scores a huge climate policy victory by canceling massive Alaska oil and gas lease sale. Progressive environmental groups and climate scientists cheered the decision. Americans need to accept high gas prices or get an electric car. https://t.co/f06ymkEy45
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) May 12, 2022
Or maybe not so fast?
Today's Alaska oil lease sale cancelation comes on the heels of federal court hearing Tuesday: Did Biden legally suspend oil lease sales?
Biden admin argued that climate change be considered as reason to suspend oil & gas drilling leases going forward.https://t.co/4Q9TfeKbtS
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) May 12, 2022
Unfortunately, yes, yes they DO believe this baloney:
Oh sure, high gas prices are all due to industry greed. 🙄
Do these green zealots and liars think we believe their baloney?#Biden administration cancels oil and gas lease sales in Alaska, Gulf of Mexico https://t.co/Mf8e4IK7ai @TPPF @Life_Powered_— Chuck DeVore (@ChuckDeVore) May 12, 2022
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