The Department of the Interior has taken swift action to fulfill the promise of President Biden’s campaign to block oil and gas drilling on public lands, thus freezing leases for the next 60 days.
An order signed Wednesday by interim Secretary Scott de la Vega prohibits the department from promoting any new leasing or drilling permits. It also blocks any major new mining actions.
Biden’s climate plan calls for “a ban on new oil and gas permits on public land and water,” a pledge made by every Democratic candidate in the mayor’s office after the idea was first proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren
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The 60-day timeline interrupts a number of other actions at the Interior, including any promotions for department staff or the transfer of public land back to the states.
Biden nominated Rep. Deb Haaland
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Biden’s climate plan calls for the US to move towards carbon neutrality by 2050, an effort that will require reducing fossil fuel use.
“I would make the transition from the oil industry, yes,” Biden said in an October debate with the former President Trump
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“It is an important statement, because the oil industry pollutes significantly. … It needs to be replaced with renewable energy over time. ”