Washington and the new administration are finally addressing government overreach and looking to expand access to American offshore energy!
This would help American energy independence and create hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. For middle-class Americans and those at or near the poverty line, this is a lifeline to improve economic opportunities.
From gasoline and electricity costs to everyday items like food, clothing, computers and smart phones, energy makes our lives better.
And they need to hear from you!
Ms. Kelly Hammerle
National Program Manager
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
45600 Woodland Road
Mailstop VAM-LD
Sterling, Virginia 20166
RE: Request for Information on 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program
Dear Ms. Hammerle:
I applaud the Interior Department’s decision to reexamine recent restrictions imposed on American offshore energy development and urge you to include all unleased areas in the 2019-2024 draft leasing plan.
Families and businesses across the United States, especially individuals on fixed and low income and small businesses depend on affordable, reliable energy to make ends meet and support their families and employees. Furthermore, increasing opportunities to develop our own resources here at home will provide critical jobs and economic growth that will help secure a more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren, while generating substantial public revenue that will help support upgrades and modernization to the nation’s aging infrastructure.
In addition to helping replace energy imports from foreign nations and those who are hostile to our interests, studies have shown that expanded development in areas like the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska could support more than 560,000 jobs and over $314 billion in cumulative government revenue. At the same time, by developing energy here in America under our stringent regulatory standards, we will help safeguard our environment, in part, by lessening dependence on energy from other nations with far less rigorous protections.
A sensible, long term, energy policy must include our offshore resources. To meet America’s growing and long-term energy needs, it is vital to keep every possibility in place at this early stage. That is why I strongly encourage the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to leave all options on the table and include all 26 planning areas in the draft proposed leasing plan.
Thank you again for re-examining the recent restrictions imposed on American offshore energy development and for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely,
