While the Americans living paycheck to paycheck struggle to cope with the high prices at the gas stations, the Biden administration continues to impede American oil drilling. Cancelling seven oil and gas leases that were issued by the Trump administration for drilling oil in Alaska is the recent such effort by this government.
On September 6, Biden’s Department of the Interior (DOI) canceled the seven oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge of Alaska that were issued by the outgoing Trump administration in early January 2021 to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA). The Oregonian wrote that the decision likely comes as a counter-measure to the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow oil project in Alaska earlier this year, which disappointed environmental groups opposed to oil exploration in the region.
Left-leaning environmental groups welcomed the cancellation of the leases as a victory for the Arctic Refuge. The non-profit Earthjustice, which centers on environmental law, wrote: “This decisive action undoes an egregious attack on this cherished place and will help to vindicate the rights of Indigenous people and protect vital habitat.”
In response, Earthjustice President @abbiedillen said: “This decisive action undoes an egregious attack on this cherished place and will help to vindicate the rights of Indigenous people and protect vital habitat." https://t.co/tSyzmUgWLI
— Earthjustice (@Earthjustice) September 6, 2023
On the other hand, the cancellation of oil leases by the Biden administration left many unhappy. AIDEA, which lost the leases, called the decision a display of “arbitrary disregard for federal law, based on campaign trail rhetoric” in its statement to Fox News. AIDEA Executive Director Randy Ruaro stated that they would go to the court against the illegal cancellation of their leases.
Conservatives wondered whether the Biden admin realizes what this measure means for the already high gas prices and whether the government cares. Dan Sullivan, Republican Senator from Alaska, was cited by The Week (September 7) calling Biden’s measure of oil lease cancellation a war against his state:
“This war on Alaska is devastating for not only Alaska but also the energy security of the nation.”
Fox Business asked whether people should be bracing for buying gas as high as $10 since this blocking of domestic oil extraction comes at a time when major oil exporters in the world are cutting production.
As The Globalists Controlling The Joe Biden Administration Announced They Were Cancelling More Of Our Oil Leases Yesterday To Drive Up Prices & Push More People To Electric, The Mainstream Media Is Now Saying To Brace For $10 Per Gallon Gas ⛽️
“Congressman Michael Burgess.… pic.twitter.com/ifj5nwCe61
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) September 9, 2023
Even among Democrats, Biden’s move against oil drilling in Alaska sparked concern. On Thursday (September 14), a group of House Democrats, mainly from Texas, sent a letter to the White House and the DOI to demand immediate action toward “uninterrupted offshore oil and gas lease sales.”
At the time of this writing, the national average gas price is at $3.86 (regular) according to AAA Gas Prices. The average gas price in the state of California is $5.52, the highest in the country, while that in Mississippi is the lowest at $3.30.