Biden Administration’s Decision to Cancel Offshore Lease Sales a Direct Attack on America’s Economy, Consumer Energy Alliance Says

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, expressed disappointment at the Biden Administration’s decision to cancel three offshore lease sales despite record high gasoline prices and 40-year high inflation.

The withdrawal of the sales puts at risk billions of dollars in funding for conservation and the environment. It purposefully disadvantages U.S. energy producers at a time when the world is witnessing what happens when nations curtail their own energy sectors and become reliant on unfriendly nations like Russia. American energy is being shipped to European allies that took far too aggressive steps to curb traditional fuels, which put them largely at the mercy of Russia’s whims.

“The Department of Interior’s claims that it cannot fulfill its legal obligation to hold lease sales is the bureaucratic equivalent of saying the dog ate my homework,” Consumer Energy Alliance President David Holt said. “It is becoming more and more apparent that our nation’s energy policy is fundamentally broken, and the White House’s latest maneuver is proof of that. This reckless course of action is a naked attempt to discourage investment into the clean, responsible American energy that we need right now.”

“Sadly, it is also an attack on families, farmers and small businesses because it will lower the supply of oil and gas, keeping gasoline prices and inflation high for a long time. This is no Putin price hike, this is a self-inflicted wound that is unnecessary, ill-conceived and irresponsible from both an energy and environmental perspective.”

About Consumer Energy Alliance
Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is the leading voice for sensible energy and environmental policies for consumers, bringing together families, farmers, small businesses, distributors, producers, and manufacturers to support America’s environmentally sustainable energy future. With more than 550,000 members nationwide, we are committed to leading the nation’s dialogue around energy, its critical role in the economy, and how it supports the vital supply chains for the families and businesses that depend on them. CEA works daily to encourage communities across the nation to seek sensible, realistic, and environmentally responsible solutions to meet our nation’s energy needs.