Biden admin hit with legal challenge over historic restrictions on offshore oil drilling [Video]

The nation’s largest fossil fuel industry association filed a legal challenge against the Biden administration over its offshore oil and gas leasing program, which includes the fewest number of lease sales in U.S. history.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) filed the legal petition Monday, arguing that the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) plan restricting future offshore fossil fuel lease sales puts American consumers at risk and threatens U.S. energy security. The DOI finalized the five-year plan in December, scheduling just three Gulf of Mexico lease sales through 2029, marking the fewest number of sales ever included in such a plan.

“Demand for affordable, reliable energy is only growing, yet this administration has used every tool at its disposal to restrict access to vast energy resources in federal waters,” said API Senior Vice President and General Counsel Ryan Meyers.

“In issuing a five-year program with the fewest lease sales in history, the administration is limiting access in a region responsible …