This week, the Energy Workforce & Technology Council submitted formal comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in response to the Proposed Program for the 2023-2028 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program). This is the five-year strategic plan for federal offshore oil and gas leasing BOEM is required by law to produce, and is a window into how the Biden Administration plans to handle offshore leasing over the next five years.
This draft plan, which was released in July, has several implications for the offshore oil and gas industry, specifically regarding the ability of the Biden Administration to severely limit the number of auctions held, or withhold any leasing opportunities entirely. In the comment letter, Energy Workforce highlighted concerns regarding availability of leasing opportunities. Additionally, the letter highlighted the potential impacts of fewer auctions on the industry.
“The U.S. Outer Continental Shelf is estimated to hold 90 billion barrels of oil and 327 trillion cubic feet of gas. If developed, these resources could create more than 800,000 American jobs, spur nearly $450 billion in private sector spending, and generate more than $200 billion in revenue for federal and state governments.”
A copy of the official letter submitted by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council can be found here. The final plan for the 2023-2028 National OCS Program will be released at a to-be-determined date after the formal comment period closes on October 6. Energy Workforce will continue to advocate for the return to a robust offshore and onshore federal oil and gas leasing program, and will keep Member Companies updated on any changes to the program.
If you are interested in Energy Workforce’s advocacy efforts or would like to join the Government Affairs Committee, contact SVP Government Affairs & Counsel Tim Tarpley.
Deidre Almstead Kohlrus, Director Government Affairs, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
