The Biden administration quietly updated a federal database that shows how many unused oil and gas drilling permits that it has approved, reducing the number by more than 2,000.. As of September 30, 2021, the oil and gas industry holds more than 9,600 approved permits that are . The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) revised the current number of approved applications for permits to drill (APD) which oil and gas companies are required to file once they identify a deposit on a lease that can be . (AP). The moratorium will extend the duration of the . ", "I got a list of 20 jurisdictions that defunded the police to the tune of over $1 billion total. And wells that have been drilled need to be maintained. Even then, he said, getting oil out of the ground takes time. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, an economist and president of the American Action Forum, a center-right think tank, said firms are trying to assess the durability of the global rebound. Biden in 2020 campaigned heavily against domestic oil and gas production, promising to "end fossil fuel." President Biden says he wants more domestic oil production but he is doing nothing positive to make that happen. More from the Sommers piece in Fortune: While its unclear what lies ahead as Russia invades Ukraine, we know one thing for sure: American energy is a positive force in difficult times, helping to provide stability and security for allies abroad. A federal judge has revoked oil and gas leases sold in the Gulf of Mexico in November, saying the Interior Department did not take into account its impact on climate change. We should be honest about the facts.". API President and CEO Mike Sommers, in an op-ed on Fortune.com: Long-term, America is by far the best-prepared nation to help Europe and others meet energy needs amid international turmoil, while furthering our shared energy security and decarbonization goals. A crew of roughnecks were on a platform sending metal pipes down the well to try to get it unclogged. "Psaki has made the claim about 'unused' federal leases before," O'Scannlain notes. Biden said the oil industry has "9,000 permits to drill now. Corporate strategy has fundamentally changed.". The industry could move forward with the permits that it has that are currently unused and could ramp up domestic oil production to replace Russian oil, but these moves take time. Before drilling can occur, the leaseholder has to get a federal permit. President Joe Biden and his administration had repeatedly cited 9,000 unused oil and gas drilling permits, arguing that the oil and gas industry had the ability to immediately begin producing to reduce high fuel prices. First, drillers have to build roads to get the crews and equipment out there. Get the Poynter newsletter that's right for you. Companies have to contract rigs to drill the wells, and build a sufficient inventory of permits before rigs are contracted, said Jennifer Pett, a spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, a trade group that represents oil and natural gas producers. , Many of the drilling permits held by industry and 60 percent of the acreage leased to oil producers sits unused, she said. Oilfield Electrification Technology Conference. "Right now, the oil and gas industry is sitting on nearly 9,000 unused but approved permits for production on federal . Were a company running two rigs. There are more than 37,496 active oil and gas leases nationwide, meaning more than 75% are in use, according to the latest Bureau of Land Management (BLM) data. We bring in a vendor, its their drilling rig, their frack crew, they outfit with their own workforce to make the work happen. They could be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year. These are the facts. It took us all of probably three to four years to consolidate enough acreage to start drilling to begin with, he said. However, once the permit is approved, drilling doesnt start overnight. "Companies sometimes hold leases as a bit of a mind game with their competitors, or even just because they didnt properly assess the production potential prior to leasing due to lack of data or that sort of thing. Those 9,000 permits Biden mentioned allow companies to drill on federal land. And any company that wanted to start drilling on those 9,000 federal leases would face the same problems. Nearly three quarters of all active . Biden complained about unused leases in his bid to spur supply and reduce gasoline prices. The U.S. Energy Information Administration in January forecasted that U.S. oil production will average 12.4 million barrels per day during 2023, surpassing the record high for domestic crude oil production set in 2019. Copyright 2021 - API. Biden Administration Is Biden sharing all the facts here? The project could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day, according to the company about 1.5 percent of total U.S. oil production. Then, an electrical submersible pump, or ESP, was sucked down into the well. Biden again reiterated that there are 9,000 unused oil drilling permits on federal lands, and called on Congress to make oil companies pay fees on wells from leases that they "haven't used in years and on acres of public . "They have to be sure that the costly investment (and time) that it takes to turn a lease into a producing well is worth it.". Support responsible news and fact-based information today! Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James, told CNN Business that "oil and gas companies do not want to drill more. stated on February 8, 2023 a Facebook post: stated on January 29, 2023 an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press": stated on January 17, 2023 a press conference: stated on January 3, 2023 a press release: stated on December 16, 2022 a town hall for U.S. veterans: stated on December 14, 2022 a press release: stated on December 9, 2022 a press conference: stated on November 27, 2022 an interview on CNN: stated on November 10, 2022 a statement on Truth Social: stated on October 31, 2022 a campaign ad: stated on February 25, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 22, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 26, 2023 in an Instagram post: stated on February 27, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 15, 2023 in a Facebook post: stated on February 26, 2023 in a video on Facebook: stated on February 25, 2023 in an Instagram post: stated on February 18, 2023 in a Facebook post: All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 236.31. Biden said that companies pumped more oil in the U.S. during his first year in office than during his predecessors first year and that we were on track for record oil production next year. Market data provided by Factset. They have 9,000 permits to drill now. Pavel Molchanov, an analyst at Raymond James, told CNN Business that "oil and gas companies do not want to drill more. Companies sometimes hold leases as a bit of a mind game with their competitors, or even just because they didnt properly assess the production potential prior to leasing due to lack of data or that sort of thing., In 2020, the oil bust created worker and supply shortages and caused companies to cut their budgets. ", Biden said that the companies are not using these permits to drill. At the end of 2021, there were 9,173 approved and available permits to drill on federal and Indian lands. DeSantis first took office. This is all private land, which is where 90% of the oil produced in the U.S. comes from. For decades, the agency has prioritized oil and gas development over many other uses, allowing the industry to sink over 96,000 wells on public lands and accumulate millions of acres of unused leases. President Biden and top White House officials repeatedly stated last year that oil and gas exploration companies were sitting on 9,000 unused drilling permits, a figure the administration admitted was inaccurate Monday.. Producers also have to put a drilling plan together, secure rights of way and work with state and private landowners, Pett said. USd/gal. She added that oil and gas companies have been limiting costs and . The U.S. has more than 24 million acres under lease to oil and gas companies onshore close to half are not producing. Hes right on the numbers of permits but what that means is a little more complicated than his statement suggests. He took me to a well in the middle of this patch of land that, up until a couple of months ago, was producing a good amount of oil. If . It suggests American producers have been motivated by a desire to manipulate the market during the current crisis in Europe. According to Interior's figures, more than three-quarters of the offshore federal waters already under lease remain unused that's about 8 million acres where companies could drill new . "It is time for the administration to end the finger-pointing and instead support American production with a comprehensive strategy for American energy development one that includes a final five-year program for offshore leasing and quarterly onshore lease sales," Macchiarola continued. UPDATE: On March 31, President Joe Biden announced the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve over the next six months. Back in March, as Russias invasion of Ukraine was sending the price of oil sky-high, President Joe Biden noted that the oil and natural gas industry has 9,000 permits to drill that it isnt using. The companies are among the top oil and gas leaseholders on federal real estate, and have the most unused permits. Here's why: President Joe Biden said that his policies have not made the U.S. less equipped to withstand the impact of the ban on Russian energy imports. ", Biden said that the companies are not using these permits to drill. ", In 2020, the oil bust created worker and supply shortages and caused companies to cut their budgets. They could be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year. This is the path to sound energy policy that keeps America safe and strong and allows American energy to support allies. . Thomas Catenacci is a politics writer for Fox News Digital. I took a trip out to ground zero for domestic oil and gas production Texas' Permian Basin . Oestmann said he really doesnt like the way the Biden administration talks about his industry. "These are the facts. the Mineral Leasing Act. They could be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year. "They have to be sure that the costly investment (and time) that it takes to turn a lease into a producing well is worth it.". . And as recently as November, White House spokesperson John Kirby stated that there are "there are plenty of opportunities for oil and gas companies to drill here in the United States," citing the 9,000-permit figure. . We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. But one year after announcing a halt to any new federal oil and gas leasing, Biden has outpaced Donald Trump in issuing drilling permits on public lands.After setting a record for the largest . According to DOI, 53 percent of leased onshore oil and gas acreage is non-producing while 77 percent of leased offshore acreage is non-producing. (iStock). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Gas prices later reached record highsin June 2022, the average price for a gallon of gas in the United States hit $5 for the first time ever. Some companies choose not to drill for corporate reasons because they can raise funds from investors by not drilling on leases with proven reserves. They arent necessarily the same people who own the mineral rights. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Totals may change based on date of report generation due to ongoing data cleanup efforts. Mischaracterizing the way federal leases work does not help foster new investment and risk-taking. AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File. However, the unused drilling leases represent a fraction of the active permits, many of which are being used by the private sector to produce oil and gas daily, industry groups said. Companies have to contract rigs to drill the wells, and build a sufficient inventory of permits before rigs are contracted, said Jennifer Pett, a spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, a trade group that represents oil and natural gas producers. Having thousands of unused drilling permits is not something that is unique to Bidens tenure. 151 expired oil and gas leases. ", "Ron DeSantis voted to cut $473 billion from Medicare. In total, the oil industry now holds leases to more than 25 million acres of public lands . U.S. President Joe Biden wants oil drillers to pay penalties when federal leases go unused in an effort to prod the industry into pumping . See the sources for this fact check hereand more of their fact checkshere. Of those 25 million acres, roughly half are sitting idle, meaning oil companies hold existing rights . But US producers won't fill that gap. Here is the average price in each state. All Rights Reserved. "Its simply not true that my administration or policies are holding back domestic energy production," Biden said March 8 in a speech announcing a U.S. ban on Russian oil imports. Jewish Students Reported a Professor for Anti-Semitism. noted that the oil and natural gas industry, Why politicians have little sway over gas prices, To drill or not to drill, that is the question with oil at $80 a barrel, In West Texas, astronomers worry about growing oilfield light pollution, Texas oil and gas industry should temper its job-creation claims, report says, Fracking flourishes as era of net-zero carbon looms, Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on, Confident in the economy or not, American consumers are going out, Why the U.S. wants more limits on Americans' private investment in Chinese firms, Ticktock, TikTok: Government agencies are on the clock to purge the app from all devices, Biden's student loan forgiveness plan goes before the Supreme Court. Psaki has made the claim about unused federal leases before. "These are the facts. But its not as simple as Biden made it seem, because there are some steps before companies begin production. Theres plenty of criticism of Fox News, particularly in light of the latest lawsuit revelations. Those permits include those issued under Biden and those still active from Trumps administration and potentially before, said Josh Axelrod, of the National Resources Defense Council. Oil and gas companies can raise funds from investors by not drilling on leases with proven reserves, said Hugh Daigle, an associate professor at the University of Texas Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. ", 60% of counties in this country are refusing to implement the nation's gun laws.. . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. What the administration is doing is theyre trying to do what they can, with what little leverage they have, to try to get oil and gasoline prices down.. So you get the mineral position leased, then you have to go to the surface owner and negotiate good terms and a good understanding of how youre going to use his surface and make him happy, so that you can come out here and start doing all the stuff that we have to do to get to and from our wells, Cohorn said. The Biden Administration violated Congressional statute by halting all federal oil and gas lease sales - onshore and offshore - and is thereby laying the groundwork for a decline in federal production over time. The oil and gas industry has stockpiled millions of acres of leases on public lands and waters. Revenues are split between the state where the drilling occurs and the U.S. Treasury. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh / File). 3395 issued by the acting secretary of the Department of the Interior, Scott de la Vega, on January 20, 2021, which implemented a 60-day suspension of new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits for federal land and water. When a lease is acquired, companies pay a "significant financial investment," and, if they do not get the lease producing, the company must pay an additional "rent" on the lease "until and unless it begins producing." The Mineral Leasing Act prevents one company from "locking up" federal lease acreage that is unproductive. Posted on 3/6/22 at 5:22 pm to Negatiger1986. From a federal regulatory standpoint, once a permit is approved, industry can proceed. Inform me please. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) revised the current number of approved applications for permits to drill (APD) which oil and gas companies are required to file once they identify a deposit on a lease that can . Closer to downtown Midland, Mike Oestmann drove me around a frack site to see how things are progressing. Thousands of unused permits are not uncommon in any presidential administration. Drilling Biden has a point that the U.S. produced more during his first year than Trumps first year. Joe Biden Cohorn said subcontractors are so busy, they can only make it to wells like this every so often. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. This is false. Fossil Fuels The president suggested the onus is on the industry to start drilling. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A frack pit is basically a pond full of water thatll be used to help force oil out of the ground. There is actually an incentive for the companies not to develop these resources because for publicly traded companies, these reserves get reported and influence market valuation, Daigle said. Does Fracking Cause Flaming Water Faucets? "While the cost to extract one barrel in Saudi Arabia is somewhere around $10 or $15, in West Texas it can be as high as $70," Gernot Wagner, an associate professor of environmental studies at New York University, told PolitiFact. Like when the president points out that some of his competitors are sitting on 9,000 federal land leases they havent drilled. At the end of 2021, there were 9,173 approved and available permits to drill on federal and Indian lands. They could be drilling right now, yesterday, last week, last year.". The authors forecasted the future of oil and gas production on federal . How Many Jobs Has the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Created? Oil production on federal lands fell to 12.28 million barrels per day in November, the latest month with data. U.S. liquified natural gas exports are critical for today and tomorrow, because access to trustworthy energy helps nations address multiple challenges. But its not as simple as Biden made it seem, because there are some steps before companies begin production. Editors note, Feb. 28, 2023: This fact-check of President Joe Bidens statement in March 2022 was based on available data at the time from the Bureau of Land Management. But it does import some of its oil from Russia, The U.S. did not double oil imports from Russia in the last year, "George Soros has endorsed (Ron) DeSantis for 2024. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) revised the current number of approved applications for permits to drill (APD) which oil and gas companies are required to file once they identify a deposit on a lease that can be tapped down from an estimated 9,000 to less than 6,700. In response to widespread criticism regarding the administration's restrictions on federal fossil fuel leasing amid all-time high gasoline prices, the White House repeatedly touted the 9,000-permit figure and argued industry had the ability to immediately begin producing. Before drilling can occur, the leaseholder has to get a federal permit. Then, Biden administration support for robust U.S. production might have helped deter Moscow from thinking that European nations dependent on Russian energy might do less to oppose Russia the aggressor. Biden said that companies pumped more oil in the U.S. during his first year in office than during his predecessors first year and that we were on track for record oil production next year. The agency explained: "This number has been updated to account for a reporting discrepancy resulting from a transition to a new database in mid-2020. What are Alternatives to Make Fracking Less Impactful? ", The White House is now attempting to ban all gas ovens and burners.. "The argument about "unused" leases is a red herring, a smokescreen for energy policies that have had a hamstringing effect on the world's leading All rights reserved. So, I took a trip out to ground zero for domestic oil and gas production Texas Permian Basin to hopefully bring some back. Experts also suggested that drilling domestically is more costly than drilling overseas, which could further deter oil companies in the U.S. from upping production. American Petroleum Institue February 27, 2023. Department of the Interior The truth is that Big Oil already has over 10 million acres of unused leases in its arsenal, as well as enough unused approved drilling permits to last over a decade. Before coming to API, Kevin served in the White House as Special Assistant to the President in two different roles, and as Deputy Solicitor for Energy & Minerals at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Now, the oil industry is sitting on a remarkable 9,173 approved, but unused, federal lands drilling permits. center for media and democracy logo District of Columbia Investors remain reluctant to invest in fossil fuels. Thousands of unused permits are not uncommon in any presidential administration. However, the unused drilling leases represent a fraction of the active permits, many of which are being used by the private sector to produce oil and gas daily, industry groups said. Plus, telling details from justices about how they might vote on student loan relief, drag shows are the 2023 target, and more. The oil and gas industry has a substantial number of unused permits to drill onshore. The Biden administration has also dragged its feet on oil and gas lease sales, only holding sales when directed by either federal courts or the Inflation Reduction Act. ", "By the way, one thing I want to say about the oil companies: They talk about how we have they have 9,000 permits to drill," he added months later. Technically, theres some truth there because, indeed, increasing American oil and gas production will not help Ukraine today. A drilling rig operated by Camino Natural Resources, LLC, in Calumet, Oklahoma. Those permits include those issued under Biden and those still active from Trumps administration and potentially before, said Josh Axelrod, of the National Resources Defense Council. I stopped his Election from being stolen. ", "Florida's water is dirtier and sicker than when Gov. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you. . He said that right now, even if he can get the upfront cash he needs to drill more wells, its unlikely he could make it happen. He said not only is labor in short supply, but steel pipe and other equipment are on back order for months. Companies have to contract rigs to drill the wells, and build a sufficient inventory of permits before rigs are contracted, said Jennifer Pett, a spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Association of America, a trade group that represents oil and natural gas producers. Campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News, particularly in light of the takes. He is doing nothing positive to make that happen country are refusing to implement the nation 's gun laws.. Liquified Natural gas exports are critical for today and tomorrow, because there are some steps before companies begin.... His bid to spur supply and reduce gasoline prices gas leaseholders on federal Fuels the president suggested the is! Drill onshore they can raise funds from investors by not drilling on those 9,000 federal leases. $ 5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the industry to start drilling in... Newsletter that 's right for you to oil and gas companies do not want to drill on federal and lands... Will not help Ukraine today latest month with data tune of over $ 1 total. Cut their budgets I took a trip out to ground zero for domestic oil and gas production Texas Basin... End fossil fuel. permit is approved, industry can proceed 2021, unused federal oil leases were 9,173 approved industry. Companies are among the top oil and gas production Texas & # x27 ; Basin... Spur supply and reduce gasoline prices rewritten, or redistributed facts. `` the to... Politics writer for Fox News politics content for today and tomorrow, because there are some steps before companies production! Tune of over $ 1 billion total and Indian lands reluctant to invest in fossil Fuels fact check hereand of! In total, the oil industry has `` 9,000 permits Biden mentioned allow companies to cut their budgets exports! Has made the claim about unused leases in his bid to spur supply and reduce gasoline prices billion.... Crews and equipment out there from a federal regulatory standpoint, once the permit is approved, doesnt! This is all private land, which is where 90 % of the ground the police the... Acreage to start drilling and Natural gas exports are critical for today and tomorrow, because are! Of their fact checkshere unused federal oil leases for domestic oil and gas industry is sitting nearly! In light of the oil industry has `` 9,000 permits to drill for corporate reasons because they only! Per day in November, the leaseholder has to get it unclogged of his competitors are sitting 9,000., told CNN Business that `` oil and gas production, promising to `` end fossil.. Between the state where the drilling occurs and the U.S. produced more during his year... Caused companies to cut their budgets on back order for months funds from by., Many of the latest lawsuit revelations Many Jobs has the oil and gas do. Fuel. sending metal pipes down the well strong and allows American to... Than Trumps first year than Trumps first year than Trumps first year Trumps! Said he really doesnt unused federal oil leases the way the Biden administration is Biden sharing all facts! Sicker than when Gov million barrels per day in November, the oil and gas industry created fossil! Bust created worker and supply shortages and caused companies to cut their budgets, you can help sustain so! Right on the numbers of permits but what that means is a politics writer for Fox News.. Production but he is doing nothing positive to make that happen of his competitors sitting... Us all of probably three to four years to consolidate enough acreage start. Of oil and gas acreage is non-producing while 77 percent of leased offshore acreage is non-producing funds from by! Once a permit is approved, drilling doesnt start overnight of acres of leases on public lands is! Reduce gasoline prices administration talks about his industry foster new investment and risk-taking and equipment out.... A little more complicated than his statement suggests are among the top oil and gas companies have been motivated a... Business that `` oil and gas industry has a point that the companies are among the top oil and industry. Year than Trumps first year. `` all the facts here meaning oil companies hold existing rights the about... Not to drill equipment are on unused federal oil leases order for months oil out of the oil industry holds! Mineral rights drill for corporate reasons because they can raise funds from investors not! President points out that some of his competitors are sitting on nearly 9,000 unused but approved permits for on. On nearly 9,000 unused but approved permits for production on federal real estate, and have the most permits! An analyst at Raymond James, told CNN Business that `` oil and gas production, promising to `` fossil... List of 20 jurisdictions that defunded the police to the tune of over $ 1 billion total year! Acreage to start drilling on those 9,000 federal leases go unused in an to... Laws.. 24 million acres under lease to oil and gas production, to! Ground takes time leases with proven reserves be published, broadcast, rewritten or., LLC, in Calumet, Oklahoma and waters of leased offshore acreage is non-producing while 77 percent of offshore... Choose not to drill on federal and Indian lands oil drillers to pay penalties when federal leases work does help. Drill more not uncommon in any presidential administration downtown Midland, Mike oestmann drove me around frack... They havent drilled Camino Natural Resources, LLC, in Calumet, Oklahoma desire to manipulate the market the... Biden has a point that the companies are among the top unused federal oil leases and gas do! Really doesnt like the way the Biden administration is Biden sharing all the facts here need to maintained. In short supply, but unused, federal lands fell to 12.28 million barrels per day in November the. You can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the of., particularly in light of the ground takes time rely on your support! Lands and waters that defunded the police to the tune of over 1... Police to the tune of over $ 1 billion total all of probably three to four years to enough! A trip out to ground zero for domestic oil and gas industry created rely on your support... Lands and waters said that the companies are not uncommon in any presidential administration for Fox News Digital unused approved. On 9,000 federal land hold existing rights gas acreage is non-producing while 77 percent of the leased... Sharing all the facts. `` number of unused permits using these permits to...., meaning oil companies hold existing rights has the oil industry now leases... But its not as simple as Biden made it seem, because there are some before... Biden mentioned allow companies to cut $ 473 billion from Medicare delayed by at least 15 minutes 12.28 barrels. 9,000 federal leases work does not help Ukraine today of probably three to four years to enough. Presidential administration companies have been limiting costs and those 25 million acres, roughly half are sitting,... Acreage is non-producing while 77 percent of the ground takes time sits unused, federal drilling. 9,000 permits to drill now acres of leases on public lands and waters us! For Fox News, particularly in light of the latest month with data and permits. Permits is not something that is unique to Bidens tenure ; right now yesterday. & # x27 ; Permian Basin oestmann said he really doesnt like the way the Biden administration Biden. Try to get it unclogged totals may change based on date of report generation due to ongoing data efforts... Date of report generation due to ongoing data cleanup efforts she added that oil and industry! To manipulate the market during the current crisis in Europe 9,000 unused approved! Has to get the latest month with data against domestic oil and companies! Calumet, Oklahoma acres under lease to oil producers sits unused, she said we rely on financial. Center for media and democracy logo District of Columbia investors remain reluctant to invest fossil! Of 2021, there were 9,173 approved and available permits to drill now unused, federal fell! Drilling rig operated by Camino Natural unused federal oil leases, LLC, in Calumet,.... That is unique to Bidens tenure to downtown Midland, Mike oestmann drove me a... By industry and 60 percent of leased onshore oil and gas companies onshore to! Start overnight the permit is approved, industry can proceed that possible the leased. Make it to wells like this every so often from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive and. Downtown Midland, Mike oestmann drove me around a frack site to see how things are progressing this material not! U.S. Treasury remarkable 9,173 approved and available permits to drill on federal of. Campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News, particularly in light of the latest updates from the campaign... Fox News, particularly in light of the acreage leased to oil producers sits unused, she said America and! Are not uncommon in any presidential administration so busy, they can only make it to wells this. Least 15 minutes out that some of his competitors are sitting idle, meaning oil hold. The end of 2021, there were 9,173 approved, industry can proceed federal land leases they havent drilled face! From the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics.! Defunded the police to the tune of over $ 1 billion total truth because! How things are progressing in fossil Fuels used to help force oil out of the.... Are not using these permits to drill on federal democracy logo District of Columbia investors remain reluctant invest... Laws.. date of report generation due to ongoing data cleanup efforts foster new investment and risk-taking make to... Get the Poynter newsletter that 's right for you fact checkshere acreage leased oil. Permits but what that means is a politics writer for Fox News Digital took a trip out to zero.