Oil and gas industry, along with environmental groups, have joined forces to file a legal challenge against the Biden administration's plan to limit offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The challenge arises as the industry and green groups argue that the proposed restrictions on drilling leases are unnecessary and hinder the country's access to affordable and reliable energy.
The American Petroleum Institute, representing the oil and gas industry, contends that the demand for energy is continuously growing, and the administration's measures to restrict access to vast energy resources in federal waters are unwarranted. Over the past five years, the number of leases in the region has significantly decreased. In 2017, there were 2,486 leases issued, while only 2,852 permits were granted in the most recent fiscal year, indicating a shrinking trend.
