A Federal Leasing and Development Ban Threatens America’s Energy Security and Economic Growth, Undermines Environmental Progress

Energy produced on federal lands and waters plays a critical role in America’s energy revolution, accounting for 12% of U.S. natural gas production and nearly a quarter of U.S. oil production.

According to a new OnLocation analysis, The Consequences of a Leasing and Development Ban on Federal Lands and Waters (Sept. 2020), U.S. energy leadership could be at stake if a federal leasing and development ban is enacted.*

Highlights from the analysis include:

Energy Security Impacts

U.S. oil imports from foreign sources could increase by 2 million barrels a day by 2030
Annual U.S. natural gas exports could decrease by 800 billion cubic feet by 2030
U.S. offshore natural gas and oil production could decrease by 68% and 44% respectively

Economic Impacts

U.S. GDP could decline by a cumulative $700 billion by 2030
Nearly 1 million jobs could be lost by 2022
U.S. households could spend a cumulative $19 billion more on energy by 2030
Over $9 billion in government revenue could be at risk

Environmental Impacts

National U.S. CO₂ emissions could increase by an average of 58 million metric tons and keep rising to represent a 5.5% increase in the power sector by 2030
Current transition from coal to natural gas could be delayed, keeping half the coal capacity that would otherwise be retired by 2030
Total U.S. coal use could increase by 15% by 2030

*Projections from publicly available information and OnLocation analysis