The fossil fuel industry, represented by the American Petroleum Institute API, has joined forces with five Republican state attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging offshore drilling restrictions implemented by the Biden administration in its final days.
These restrictions, which closed millions of acres to new drilling, are seen as part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to enhance environmental protections.
The lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Louisiana, mirrors previous legal actions involving similar federal policies, such as the 2022 freeze on new oil and gas leasing on federal lands.
API’s general counsel, Ryan Meyers, emphasized the economic importance of offshore drilling, arguing that it serves as a critical source of energy, government revenue, and global stability.
The states involved in the lawsuit—Mississippi, Alaska, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia—were also plaintiffs in the earlier lawsuit challenging the leasing freeze.
As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, he is expected to seek the reversal of these restrictions, which would likely trigger another court battle with environmental groups, similar to the legal challenges faced during his first term when he tried to undo Obama-era restrictions.
The lawsuit’s outcome could potentially lead to a quicker legal resolution, especially if the plaintiffs secure a favorable ruling, compared to the prolonged process of undoing restrictions under the Trump administration.