The bill permanently bans new Arctic offshore leasing to protect Arctic ecosystems, subsistence resources, and limit additional fossil fuel development, but in doing so it forgoes potential energy supply, jobs, and government revenue that could affect prices and local economies.
General public and future generations: preserves Arctic landscapes and limits additional greenhouse gas emissions by barring new fossil fuel development on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf.
Residents in Arctic coastal and nearby communities: reduces the risk of offshore oil spills and related environmental harm by prohibiting new oil, gas, and mineral leasing in Arctic OCS areas.
Fisheries and subsistence users (local and Indigenous): helps protect marine ecosystems and subsistence resources that communities rely on by preventing new offshore extraction activity in the Arctic OCS.
Consumers and broader energy markets: could reduce domestic supply options and—depending on alternatives—contribute to higher energy prices or greater reliance on other suppliers.
Federal, state, and local governments and nearby communities: forgoes potential lease sales, royalties, and other revenue streams that would have funded government programs and local economies near Arctic OCS areas.
Energy companies and workers in Arctic offshore development: lose potential revenue, investment, and job opportunities that would have come from new Arctic offshore oil, gas, and mineral development.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Bars the Interior Secretary from issuing or extending leases or authorizations for oil, gas, or other minerals on Arctic areas of the Outer Continental Shelf, using the Arctic definition from the Arctic Research and Policy Act.
Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from issuing or extending any lease or other authorization for exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral on Arctic areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. The bill defines “Arctic” by reference to the definition in the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984. The prohibition applies regardless of any other law and does not create new funding or programs. The text does not specify an effective date.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Jared Huffman · Last progress April 10, 2025