News
Governor Gordon Slams Planned Biden Administration Order Halting Oil and Gas Leasing
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon is slamming plans by the Biden administration to halt the issuing of new oil and gas leases on federal land, calling the decision a misguided approach that will have severe economic consequences to Wyoming and other western states.
Multiple media outlets have reported that the Biden administration has drafted an order to impose an oil and gas lease moratorium while it conducts a review of the federal oil and gas leasing program.
“The President’s decision to halt Federal leasing on oil and gas under the guise of a ‘pause’ is beyond misguided,” Governor Gordon said. “It is disingenuous, disheartening and a crushing blow to the economies of many Western States, particularly Wyoming. No matter how it is framed, this action is still a ban on leasing.”
Governor Gordon pointed out that the administration’s planned action threatens thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues per year.
“This executive action lends credence to the concerns that the administration is bound and determined to dictate all policies from Washington, DC, regardless of dire consequences,” the Governor continued. “It is a reinvigoration of top-down, Obama-era policies that only served to divide and alienate the very working-class American communities with whom the Biden administration has pledged to unite.
“It is clear President Biden has caved in to a loud segment of the Democratic Party that is pushing to require all policies and decisions to meet a litmus test of climate change, regardless of consequence. Any examination of the most recent election results would have to conclude that voters rejected this sort of far-reaching and radicalized platform. There are bipartisan solutions available that support the people working in oil and gas on federal lands as well as reduce carbon emissions.”
The Governor noted that Wyoming has led the nation in efforts to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere and the administration’s actions stifle states like Wyoming that are actively pursuing efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and clean up the atmosphere.
“The lost jobs and revenue caused by this action inhibit Wyoming’s ability to invest in C02 capture and likewise the ability of the oil and gas industry to contribute to those projects,” Governor Gordon said. “In the longer run, Wyoming may find itself with no choice but to increase the costs of doing business on other energy sources to balance our budget.”
Governor Gordon has been reaching out to Governors of other Western states to discuss the impacts of this planned federal action.
Pete Korsch
January 27, 2021 at 8:20 am
Mayb Wyoming should follow Texas’ lead and consider suing the feds. It may b the only way to slow this crackpot Biden down is to let federal judges issue stays and injunctions against his administrations love of ill conceived and wrongheaded Demonrat policies
Ron Howard
January 27, 2021 at 8:58 am
I don’t see this ban as that big of a deal. It includes additional investment into wind power, which Wyoming has plenty of opportunity to capitalize on. So pivot from oil to wind, wind creates more jobs per MW generated than oil and gas! Wind also gets us out of the boom/bust cycle of the oil market.
I’ll also point out that if Wyoming suffers it’s also a reflection on our state government, which has continually failed to diversify Wyoming’s economy. Stop complaining and be proactive.
mark steingass
January 27, 2021 at 9:46 am
good points Ron…thing is it has taken decades and decades to get where we are today regarding the energy sector and it will take decades to transition away…the market demands on energy needs will determine how fast such a transition will occur…the biggest competitor to coal is abundant and less expensive natural gas from advanced fracking methods
Ron Howard
January 27, 2021 at 10:17 am
I absolutely agree Mark. My though is this executive order isn’t as damaging as it appears. It doesn’t limit drilling on private land, and only 50% of the leases approved on federal land in the last 5 years have even been exercised. Furthermore, the majority of state income comes from production royalties, not application fees. Without dramatic legislation from Congress I don’t see how this ban will make much of a difference in the next 4 years, as many producers still have the right to exercise their previously approved permits and drill new wells. I think the lack of any reaction (crash, for example) from the oil and gas market signals their confidence to continue operating at the same level despite the ban.
Thomas Jones
January 31, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Go tell that to those who lost their jobs. Any wind farms hiring? Didn’t think so.