WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) in cosponsoring the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023. The legislation requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold two offshore oil and gas lease sales in 2024 and 2025 of at least 74 million acres each. In addition to mandating these sales, the bill also defines acreage, stipulates lease terms and conditions, defines which previously finalized environmental reviews will apply to the sales, and ensures that both issued leases and drilling permit applications are not either invalidated, remanded, or delayed as a result of lawsuits.
“From day one, Joe Biden has sided with climate activists against American energy workers, and the result has been a disaster,” said Coach Tuberville.“We need an all-of-the-above approach to energy production to keep prices low and capacity high. The Offshore Energy Security Act will help stabilize energy prices, preserve Alabama jobs, and boost the Gulf economy while making America more energy independent.”
Despite a legal obligation to maintain an offshore leasing program, the Biden Administration delayed the finalization of the 5-year plan for offshore oil and gas for over a year and a half. On December 15, 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program with the fewest oil and gas leases in history. The proposed oil and gas lease sales will occur in 2025, 2027, and 2029 in the Gulf of Mexico without any lease sales expected this year for the first time since 1958.
The Biden Administration’s delay in releasing the 5-year plan and then only authorizing three leases over the next five years is an insult to domestic energy producers across the Gulf and in Alaska. Offshore leasing is critical to further the nation’s energy security and national security. As Joe Biden continues to hold America’s energy production hostage, financial and security costs increase for the taxpayer as the United States imports fossil fuels from other nations.
The legislation is supported by the National Ocean Industries Association, American Petroleum Institute, Gulf Energy Alliance, and Consumer Energy Alliance.
BACKGROUND:
Coach Tuberville believes Joe Biden’s overregulation of American energy is driving up prices and killing jobs. Coach Tuberville supports an all-of-the-above approach to American energy, including increasing the use of environmentally-safe and affordable nuclear energy.
Last week, Coach Tuberville delivered a floor speech about the importance of the United States embracing nuclear energy.
In a letter, Coach Tuberville joined his colleagues in requesting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Michael Regan, withdraw the Clean Power Plan 2.0 proposed rule.
Coach Tuberville joined his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, raising their concern about a proposed rule by the DOE that increases efficiency standards on distribution transformers – critical grid products – at a time when the availability of essential grid components remains a significant challenge for the electric power industry, and while the industry is struggling due to a substantial increase in demand, supply chain issues, and skilled workforce shortage.
Coach Tuberville also submitted a comment to Secretary Granholm opposing the Administration’s proposed rule to disrupt production of critical distribution transformers, which would inhibit electric utilities’ ability to meet their customers’ needs.
In a floor speech, Coach rejected climate hysteria and encouraged clean domestic energy production.
In 2022, Coach Tuberville introduced the Thorium Energy Security Act to prevent the destruction of Uranium 233 (U-233), a critical element used to produce clean energy.
In a floor speech, Coach Tuberville spoke about the hypocrisy of Left-wing climate activists and the dangers of the energy shortage created by President Biden’s war on fossil fuels.
Coach also introduced the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, which reverses President Biden’s shutdown of the American energy sector and would return American energy to full production.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
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