Biden Administration Holds First Public Lands Lease Sales

WASHINGTON – Today, the Biden administration kicked off its first onshore oil and gas leases sales with bidding beginning in Wyoming. This marks the first of five planned public lands lease sales across Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Montana.

The Bureau of Land Management currently has no legal obligation to hold these lease sales, and this action is in direct contradiction to Biden’s campaign promise to stop new oil and gas leasing on public lands.

Nicole Ghio, Senior Fossil Fuels Program Manager at Friends of the Earth, issued the following statement in response:

President Biden’s massive public lands giveaway in the face of utter climate catastrophe is just the latest sign that his climate commitments are mere rhetoric.

Fossil fuel extraction on public lands causes nearly a quarter of U.S. climate pollution, and minor concessions like raising royalty rates fail to address emissions. The more public lands sacrificed to Big Oil, the more economic damage, death, and destruction are baked into our future.

To stave off the worst of climate change, Biden must keep his promise and end all new leasing on public lands and waters.

Communications contact: Kerry Skiff, [email protected], 202-222-0723