Offshore Natural Gas Rig

Lease Sales Can’t Come Fast Enough to Help Americans Suffering from Record Prices

HOUSTON  – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, issued the following statement after the Department of Interior released its draft five-year leasing plan late on Friday.

“While it is welcome news that the Department of Interior has moved forward on its overdue five-year plan for offshore leasing in federal waters, it is concerning that no lease sales is among the options being considered,” CEA President David Holt said. “Equally problematic is the Department of Interior’s statement that there is no timing requirement to get a plan finalized.”

“American families can no longer wait for real efforts to lower record high gasoline prices while inflation rages. Slow-footing a bureaucratic process is not helping American families and small businesses, and certainly is not in line with President Biden’s public commitment to do everything he can to bring gasoline and diesel prices down,” Holt said.

“CEA encourages Congress to consider legislation that will require competitive annual lease sales. Americans and our allies can wait no longer for real relief, and a serious energy policy that recognizes the national security, economic security, reliability and affordability that offshore leasing provides.”

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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.

Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org