United States: In Washington, US, approximately 35,000 acres (14,146 hectares) of land are set to go under the hammer this Tuesday, under the guidance and instruction of the Biden administration. The beneficiaries for the opportunities are oil and gas drillers in Wyoming.
The US government plans to roll out a series of these auctions, and the first one aligned with the United Nations’ COP28 summit in Dubai, a high-profile event dedicated to tackling the climate crisis.
Biden’s Blueprint Unveiled
According to reports from Reuters, the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a branch of the Interior Department, is ready to offer up more than 60 drilling parcels spread across nearly 44,000 acres (17,806 hectares) in six Western states. The auctions will unfold over two weeks.
Wyoming takes the lead with the largest sales — 37 parcels — while the rest will be up for grabs in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah. Mark your calendars for November 30, December 5, and December 12, the slated dates for these sales, according to official updates.
The auctions will be entirely virtual, happening on an online platform called EnergyNet.
The exact timing of this virtual land dance hasn’t been officially disclosed by the Interior’s spokesperson.
But hold on, the applause is missing. Environmental groups aren’t thrilled. Nicole Ghio, the Senior Fossil Fuels Program Manager for Friends of the Earth, remarks, “Instead of tackling climate change head-on, Biden seems to be paving the way for more fossil fuel expansion in the US.”
For President Joe Biden, dealing with oil extraction policies is no walk in the park, as noted by Reuters. His campaign promise was all about leasing federal lands and waters, but pesky courts are standing in the way.
In a bid to amp up renewable energy, Biden pushed through a climate change law called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It demands higher royalty rates and minimum bids to give taxpayers a better deal.
But the numbers tell a story too. According to BLM data, the Interior Department under President Biden issued significantly fewer leases compared to previous administrations. In the fiscal year 2021-2022, only 527 leases were given the nod, a far cry from the 2,740 during the Trump administration’s last two years.
COP28
The 28th installment of the United Nations Conference of the Parties, shining a spotlight on climate issues, kicks off on Thursday. This two-week summit brings leaders from around the globe together to hash out a groundbreaking deal: phasing out coal, oil, and gas emitting carbon dioxide, according to Reuters.
Surprisingly, an unnamed official from the White House dropped the bombshell that the U.S. President won’t be making an appearance at the Summit.