Biden’s offshore drilling ban faces uncertainty as Trump vows to reverse it
During a chat with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump didn’t hold back. He said he’d lift the ban right away, claiming he has the power to do so. But it might not be that simple, as there could be legal hurdles in his way.
States can lease their own land within three nautical miles, but anything beyond that falls under federal law. Biden used two presidential memorandums to make his move, relying on a law from 1953 that lets the president protect unleased areas from drilling.
Remember when Trump tried to undo Obama’s protections for Arctic waters? That didn’t go well for him. A judge appointed by Obama called his order “unlawful and invalid” back in 2019.
According to Penn State law professor Hannah Wiseman, there’s a chance this could play out similarly, since the sitting president might not have the authority to undo previous withdrawals.
The real question is whether the energy industry will be held accountable under Trump. He’s all about energy independence, no matter the source.
Trump picked Chris Wright, the CEO of Liberty Energy, to be his energy secretary. That raised some eyebrows, especially among those who support the offshore drilling ban. But there’s a twist.
Wright surprised everyone during his Senate hearing by acknowledging man-made climate change. He also talked about the need for a diverse energy sector, including wind, solar, and geothermal. His company has even invested in a geothermal energy firm and he’s involved with a company working on small nuclear reactors.
So, will Biden’s memorandums on offshore drilling hold up? It looks like the outcome might depend on whether Trump is ready to tackle this issue early in his presidency, especially with plans for a flurry of executive orders right out of the gate.
Carly Dempsey recently graduated from Florida Atlantic University, majoring in biological science and minoring in political science. She’s currently wrapping up her research manuscript in the FAU aquatic botany and ecology lab. This piece was shared by The Invading Sea, a site focused on climate change and environmental news in Florida.
