By Michael Sol Warren, NJ Spotlight News
The slim prospect of oil rigs off the Jersey Shore is now gone.
President Joe Biden on Monday banned oil and gas drilling in federal waters along the entire Atlantic Coast, most of the Pacific Coast and parts of the Gulf of Mexico.
“My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks,” Biden said in a statement Monday morning. “As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren.”
The ban was done through executive orders under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Unlike other kinds of executive orders, actions taken under this law have proven to be resilient to changes by future administrations. Former President Barack Obama issued more targeted offshore drilling bans under the same law at the end of his time in office. Donald Trump tried to roll back the Obama order during his first term but was blocked by federal courts.
The legal precedent is critical as Trump is set to return to office this month. Trump has pledged to expand American oil and gas production during his second term, all while the nation is already producing record amounts of both under Biden. If Trump wants to overturn the new ban, he will need Congress to pass legislation doing so.
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