Newhouse Responds to Biden Administration’s Oil and Gas Report

The Department of the Interior released its long-awaited report on federal oil and gas leasing and permitting practices.

The report's recommendations, which come roughly 10 months after the Biden Administration placed a moratorium on federal leases, include prioritizing leasing in areas with known resource potential and avoiding leasing that conflicts with recreation, habitat, and places of cultural significance. Fiscal suggestions are also included in the report, such as adjusting royalty and bonding rates.

Western Caucus Chair Dan Newhouse said the report's suggestions, as well as the ongoing moratorium, will ultimately end in higher costs for consumers while reducing the nation's energy independence.

"Basically this is going to increase the cost to oil companies, increase the fees, increase the amount of regulation … and make it harder for oil and gas companies to be able to produce," stated Newhouse.

The 4th District Republican also claimed the report's recommendations would reduce the country's ability to recover economically from the pandemic.

"The Western Caucus … is an advocate for an all-of-the-above energy strategy." Newhouse added in a statement, "We know our nation cannot run on wind and solar power alone; we need reliable sources of baseload energy."

Nearly a quarter of the country's oil and gas comes from federal leases.