The Biden administration is undermining the intent of the electorate by planning to permanently close off additional U.S. coastal waters to offshore oil and gas production, say U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) and a fellow member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.
“If true, this concerning development demands immediate oversight,” wrote the lawmakers in a Jan. 5 letter sent to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
The letter preceded action taken by President Joe Biden on Monday to protect more than 625 million acres of the U.S. ocean from offshore drilling. Biden determined that the environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling in these areas outweigh their limited fossil fuel resource potential, according to the White House.
Rep. Latta, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, joined committee chairman U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) in questioning the U.S. Department of Energy’s involvement in the administration’s decision to prevent new offshore oil and gas production.
Because their committee has jurisdiction over the Energy Department and national energy policy, the members requested that Granholm explain whether the White House or the U.S. Department of the Interior discussed or consulted with her or any employees at the department about the plans to close off access to offshore resources and, if so, what analysis the Energy Department provided in response, according to their letter.
“The department is charged with overseeing U.S. energy policy, ensuring America’s security and prosperity,” wrote Rep. Latta and his colleague. “Any decision to shut down access to significant American energy resources impacts U.S. energy policy and should be reviewed by the department.”
They also noted that closing off swaths of U.S. offshore areas to energy production would lead to higher energy prices for Americans, the loss of American jobs, and decrease the nation’s energy security.
“As the Secretary of Energy, you have an obligation to weigh in on this matter and insist on a full review of the energy security and economic impacts before any decisions are finalized,” wrote the members, who also pointed out that the United States is at an energy crossroads, facing mounting global security threats and soaring demand for power.
“Instead of leading the world in energy production, we’ve allowed misguided green policies to hamstring our potential,” wrote Rep. Latta and his colleague. “It’s time to unleash American energy dominance again; the federal government must become an ally, not an obstacle, to our nation’s energy security.”