Why Biden’s offshore oil drilling lease plan disappoints both sides

The Biden administration announced Friday that it is planning to hold the lowest number of auctions in the offshore lease program’s history over the next several years – a move that drew pushback from industry, environmental advocates, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. POLITICO’s Ben Lefebvre breaks down the plan’s details and significance, along with the expected criticisms. Plus, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown over the weekend, escaping an outcome that would have shuttered most of the nation’s national parks, hindered federal disaster relief and disrupted critical climate and energy regulations across key agencies. 

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Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO and the host of the POLITICO Energy podcast.

Ben Lefebvre is an energy reporter for POLITICO. 

Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer. 

Kara Tabor is an audio producer for POLITICO.

Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO. 

Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

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