Biden Continues Ban On Oil Drilling Off The Jersey Shore

MATAWAN, NJ — Last week, President Joe Biden's administration released a 5-year draft plan for oil and natural gas drilling in the U.S., and the plan held in place the existing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off the Jersey Shore.

However, Biden's plan did allow for expanded oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska.

There are said to be deep reserves of fossil fuels under the Atlantic Ocean seafloor. President Barack Obama, and presidents before him, upheld a ban on drilling for oil/natural gas in the North Atlantic Ocean off New Jersey.

President Donald Trump often flirted with the idea of lifting the ban; he often said he wanted to allow for Atlantic Ocean oil drilling. Trump's idea was met with a significant amount of backlash, including from both Central Jersey's Democrat Congressman, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6), and the area's Republican Congressman, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ4).

Both lawmakers expressed concerns about oil spills, the effects of oil drilling on local fisheries and the effects on Jersey Shore tourism.

Instead, Gov. Phil Murphy, Democrat, has continued full speed ahead on an aggressive plan to erect hundreds of wind turbines off the Jersey Shore and New York City, as part of Democrats' commitment to fund "green" or renewable energy. Related: NJ's Offshore Wind Farms Grow To 9; Firms Bid $4B To Operate

On Friday, July 1, Congressman Pallone, the Democrat who represents Middlesex and Monmouth counties, applauded Biden's continued ban on drilling off the Atlantic Coast.

“I’m glad to see that the Biden administration continues to protect the Atlantic Coast from unnecessary and dangerous offshore oil and gas drilling," said Pallone Friday. "When the greedy oil and gas industry made a list of their priorities, they included drilling off New Jersey’s coast as a top goal. We cannot and will not allow that to happen. The coastal communities in my district depend on a healthy ecosystem to thrive. An oil spill would threaten the economic vitality of the Jersey shoreline and communities up and down the Atlantic Coast. There’s simply no reason to put them at risk."

Pallone, who is the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee in Congress, is actually working to introduce legislation that will permanently ban oil and natural gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean. In May of 2021, Pallone re-introduced his Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act that prohibits the U.S. Department of Interior from issuing leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas along the Atlantic Coast, including the North, Mid-, and South Atlantic and Straits of Florida planning areas.

Pallone represents New Jersey's Sixth District, which stretches from Woodbridge, through Edison to New Brunswick, down into parts of Old Bridge, through Aberdeen, Hazlet, Holmdel, Middletown, Atlantic Highlands and Highlands. It also includes Marlboro Township and Long Branch.

Pallone will be challenged this year by Republican Sue Kiley in the November midterms.

Also last week, Pallone urged President Biden to halt crude oil exports to increase the domestic supply of oil available to U.S. refiners and help reduce gasoline prices, which are at a record high.

Congressman Pallone sent President Biden this letter, where he urged the President to restore a ban on the export of crude oil.

“Stopping crude oil exports would increase the domestic supply of oil available to U.S. refiners and would consequently help reduce prices at the pump here at home," Pallone wrote in the letter. "I, therefore, urge you to exercise your authority to halt the export of U.S. crude oil, except for those exports that directly help Ukraine and other U.S. allies weather the effects of Russian aggression.”

Related: NJ 6 Midterm Watch: Kiley Comes Out Swinging Against Pallone