The Biden administration acknowledged in a memo, accidentally leaked on Friday, that charging fossil fuel companies less to drill would provide “greater energy security” despite its plans to hike royalty fees.
Former Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Amanda Lefton recommended late last year that, as part of its climate agenda, the Department of the Interior (DOI) move forward with higher royalty fees for an oil and gas lease sale spanning 958,202 acres in the Cook Inlet off the coast of Alaska, according to the memo obtained by Fox News Digital. DOI Assistant Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis ultimately signed off on the recommendation.
“If a Cook Inlet prospect would be developed, there would be additional government revenues and greater energy security for the State of Alaska, especially if development of natural gas resources in the Cook Inlet ameliorated the long-term supply challenges facing the Anchorage area,” Lefton wrote in the memo.
“Nevertheless, because of the serious challenges facing the Nation from climate change and the impact of [greenhouse gasses] from fossil fuels, BOEM is not recommending this option since it would not include an appropriate surcharge to account for those impacts,” she continued.
Lefton’s specifically recommended the federal government charge drillers with a royalty fee of 18.75% as opposed to an alternative of 16.67% which she said would attract more bids and “be more likely to facilitate expeditious and orderly development of [offshore] resources.”
Daniel-Davis stated in her record of decision — published in November after she signed off on Lefton’s recommendation — that she selected a fee of 18.75% “because this rate constitutes the most reasonable balancing of environmental and economic factors for the American public.” She didn’t mention the alternative would produce greater energy security as highlighted in the memo.
BOEM ultimately held the auction, known as Lease Sale 258, on Dec. 30. The sale garnered just one bid worth $63,983 for a single 2,304-acre tract, according to federal records.
In May, the White House canceled Lease Sale 258, which had been proposed under the Trump administration, in an unexpected decision that was promptly criticized by the fossil fuel industry and Republican lawmakers. However, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) mandated that the administration reverse the decision and hold the sale by the end of 2022.
“The Department of the Interior mistakenly posted an internal memo making recommendations to Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Laura Daniel Davis, on the Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale 258 mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act,” Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who helped author the IRA, said in a statement Friday.
“I am appalled by its contents, which make crystal clear that this administration is literally putting their radical climate agenda ahead of the needs of the people of Alaska and the United States,” he continued.
Manchin blasted the administration for ignoring Congress’ intent and seemingly pandering to environmental groups “at the expense of shoring up American energy security and keeping Americans safe.”
“The contents of this memo speak volumes – if this is what this Administration truly believes and is how they are going to make decisions, it is unacceptable,” the West Virginia senator continued. “It’s a clear and intentional threat to energy security and the all-of-the above energy policy Congress has consistently reinforced.”
“I will not support anyone who agrees with this type of misguided reasoning.”
I want you people to Know that Natural Gas and Oil found down in the Earth 15 to 21 thousand Feet is not Fossil Fuel when the animals died and Oil Floats on water How would it get down under the water in the earth and the Oceans and the Rock they have to drill thru to get it Tell me you people are so smart or just go by what they tell You and you believe it! the Lord Put it there! if you had Common Sense you would know we would use the Fossil Fuel in a Week or Less
We have got to find a way to make him keep his greedy hands out of America’s wallet.
So your finally coming to realize commie joe has done nothing but lie about this fake climate change agenda this was all an excuse to try and destroy America with the help of obamy what he couldn’t do when he was in office socialism this leftist woke crap and cancel culture was all a front with the fake media all peddling lies since traitor obiden stole this office and since has committed Treason Against the United States now he’s going to steal more of our money with this ecxecutive order 14067 we have nobody on our side in the fking federal government their is not one single person we can trust! McCarthy has done nothing to get rid of the leftist rinos and traitor McConnell he’s the loser ringleader who keeps selling us out! FJB! FBO! Let’s Go commie joe the traitor!
The U S government has the largest carbon footprint in America. The bigger government gets the bigger the footprint. When it comes to climate change the earth goes through cycles not just seasons it goes back and forth from ice age to temperate climate over thousands of years. You get one goof ball spouting nonsense about climate change without any proof the woke people go crazy. What was once the big fear was global warming that got debunked because it was a natural occurrence. The real threat is green energy, clearing forests taking fields away from crop growing to put up inefficient wind turbines and solar panels to make up for the increase of electrical power this country will need for an all electrified country. Needless to say also the threat to wildlife the amount of birds killed by turbines and solar panels, whales and other marine life that use echo location for maneuvering.