- Ruling sides with activists to further impede already-delayed lease sale
- Remedy pending as to how this will affect sale that netted $263.8M for U.S. Treasury
NOTE: The following press release has been re-issued to correctly identify the Lease Sale involved in the ruling as 259, and to correct the venue of the decision to the D.C. District Court. CEA regrets the error.
WASHINGTON – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, issued the following statement today about a ruling by the D.C. District Court ruling which found that Lease Sale 259, held in 2023 under the Biden Administration, violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to consider emissions impacts and threats to the Rice’s whale in the Gulf of America.
“The D.C. District Court’s ruling provides yet another example of Beltway judges siding with activist groups against reliable, environmentally sustainable energy development,” CEA Vice President Katie Hammons, who oversees federal offshore issues, said. “This was a lease sale, mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, that had already been delayed by the previous Administration’s efforts to appease environmental activists.”
“It’s frustrating that we have been consistently blocked from using our vast energy resources in the Gulf, which also has the lowest carbon emissions intensity of any production basin in the world. The judge’s ruling clearly underscores the increasing need for permitting reform to ensure that Americans continue to be provided with affordable energy.”
The ruling states that a remedy will be determined later. Lease Sale 259 netted $263.8 million. Much of this funding is distributed to Gulf of America states and used for coastal restoration projects and supporting local economies that rely on offshore energy production.
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About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the trusted voice advocating for affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy solutions that benefit all Americans. Representing families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers, CEA champions sensible, balanced policies that support economic growth and environmental resiliency; and ensures families and businesses are a vocal part of the nation’s energy dialogue. Every day, we work to inspire practical, responsible solutions that meet America’s energy needs while protecting the environment for generations to come.
Contact:
Bryson Hull
(202) 657-2855
bhull@consumerenergyalliance.org