Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading energy and environmental advocate for families and businesses, issued the following statement after Interior Secretary Deborah Haaland announced that the first part of the five-year offshore lease planning process will be completed by the June 30 deadline, during her appearance before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. 

"We appreciate the announcement of some forward progress in the five-year planning process, delays in which were blamed on the previous administration, lawsuits and factors other than the Department of Interior's (DOI) tardiness. The entire process should have been completed by June 30, but the Secretary said only the first part will be done by then," CEA Federal Affairs Adviser Michael Zehr said.  

"However, the Secretary's lack of a clear response to Senators' questions about whether the proposed program would or would not include new leasing is concerning." 

"After a 16 month 'pause' on all leasing and new production in America, anything less than multiple Gulf of Mexico lease sales a year is inadequate to help Americans facing gas prices that today reached a new record high of $4.59 a gallon. Families everywhere are hurting – it is real. We are glad to hear the Secretary's comments that she understands the pain Americans are feeling, but without concrete action, the Biden Administration's approach will continue to appear to be 'let them eat avocado toast.'" 

"There is a way out, and it involves bipartisan compromise and a bias toward effective action supporting onshore and offshore oil and gas leasing. CEA thanks Senators Kelly, Cassidy and Manchin for their recognition of this fact and their forceful, persuavive arguments in favor of this path, which is the fastest, best way to help families and small businesses out of this twin energy and inflation crisis."

CEA | https://consumerenergyalliance.org