(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) A recent report from the Western Energy Alliance revealed that the Biden administration’s restrictions on federal oil and gas leasing will likely stymie funding for the upkeep of America’s national parks.
According to the Daily Caller, the Great American Outdoors Act, pays to keep the national parks running properly via taxes from oil and natural gas developments on federal lands and waters.
By refusing to lease out land for oil and gas drilling, President Joe Biden is cutting the budget for the Department of the Interior in favor of “sustainable” energy practices.
“We have an administration pursuing energy ‘transition’ policies not based in reality, so it’s inevitable that they likewise don’t understand the consequences of those policies,” said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance.
“Just as the energy sources they favor result in a scarcity of energy, so too would they result in a lack of economic output, in this case, conservation funding,” she added.
Per the GAOA, there is usually an allotment of $1.9 billion from onshore energy royalties to put toward the maintenance of campgrounds, park trails and other necessary projects that keep national parks running.
Royalty payments totaled at $4.4 billion in revenue for the maintenance program in 2021; oil and gas developments accounted for $4 billion of that total revenue.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund receives $90 million annually via offshore royalty payments.
Those royalty programs garnered $4.3 billion in revenue in 2021, with oil and gas providing almost all of the funding.
If the 2021 funding had been provided exclusively by sustainable energy revenues, only $11.5 million would be available to maintain all of the country’s national parks.
A minimum estimate of $21.8 billion is necessary to perform basic upkeep—maintaining roads, buildings and other necessary facilities.
The militant Biden administration has been fiercely anti-drilling since Day 1 in the White House.
A recent statement from the President has made it clear that he hasn’t authorized any new drilling during his time in office and will not allow for any drilling during his tenure.
Biden: "No more drilling. There is no more drilling. I haven't formed any new drilling." pic.twitter.com/AD7GOLpvzF
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 7, 2022
