The Trump administration plans to auction offshore oil leases along U.S. coastlines, including areas previously off-limits, as part of a broader effort to expand oil and gas exploration, despite opposition from states and environmental concerns.
The Biden administration has approved a plan for just three offshore oil and gas lease sales through 2029, the smallest in history, in an effort to comply with divided Congress and address climate concerns. The plan aims to support the offshore wind industry while limiting fossil fuel production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The decision reflects the challenges faced by President Biden in balancing his climate agenda with the need for domestic energy supply. Environmental groups criticized the decision, while the oil industry argued it was too restrictive. The plan delays new oil lease sales until 2025 and focuses solely on the Gulf of Mexico.