The US administration led by Joe Biden announced on Friday that it will soon issue new licenses for the development of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico, to the disappointment of environmental groups, AFP reports.

In doing so, the Democratic president is once again breaking his climate campaign promise to not allow new fossil fuel drilling on federal lands.

The oilmen wanted more

The decision, announced on Friday, has also drawn sharp criticism from the oil and gas industry as it targets three drilling licenses for the period 2025-2029, far fewer than the 47 planned for that period under Donald Trump’s presidency .

According to the Department of the Interior, which manages federal lands, the state is required by law to open up oil and gas licenses to allow more wind projects.

For its part, the American Petroleum Institute, America’s main oil lobby, criticized the permits as too “restrictive.”

“At a time when the nation is running high on inflation, the Biden administration is choosing bad energy policies that are driving up the prices Americans are feeling at the top,” said President Mike Sommers.

Biden defends: Fewest oil and gas license sales in history

This law, called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), is a major investment in the energy and climate transition that President Joe Biden wanted, but in the summer of 2022 he was only able to get a majority in Congress for this text thanks to a compromise. including this provision favoring fossil fuels.

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to building a clean energy future that will ensure America’s energy independence,” said Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Interior.

The document approved on Friday, which “represents the smallest number of oil and gas license sales in history (under this framework), allows the ministry to support the growing wind energy industry,” the statement added.

“Disappointing” decision

But these comments did not reassure environmental and climate associations.

“This decision is extremely disappointing,” said Oceana’s Beth Lowell, “at a time when Americans are facing the effects of the climate crisis, with more frequent and more severe fires, droughts, hurricanes and floods.”

“Unfortunately, President Biden is demonstrating to the world that it’s not a problem to put polluters ahead of real climate solutions,” she added.

“Experts have been warning us for years that any new fossil fuel production is incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C,” said Mattea Mrkušić of Evergreen Action.

“And this week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) confirmed that this type of fossil fuel project is not necessary to meet energy demand,” added Mattea Mrkushic.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration banned any new oil or gas development in a large area of ​​northern Alaska in response to the “climate crisis,” five months after approving a ConocoPhillips oil and gas project in the same state near the Arctic.

The Democrat suspended those licenses early in his term, but experts say his room for maneuver has been limited by lawsuits and Supreme Court rulings against his climate policies.