Sponsors (39)
The bill protects coastal ecosystems, public health, and tourism-dependent local economies in parts of the West Coast by banning new offshore oil and gas development in specified areas, but it does so at the expense of potential oil-and-gas jobs, government revenue, and possible upward pressure on regional energy costs.
Residents and local governments in Washington, Oregon, and California will have new protections as listed offshore planning areas are barred from new oil and gas development, preserving coastal and marine ecosystems.
Nearby residents and fishing communities will face a lower risk of oil spills and related public-health and safety hazards because new offshore leasing is prohibited in the named areas.
Local economies that rely on coastal recreation and tourism will be better protected because clean beaches and marine environments are preserved by banning new offshore oil and gas development in these planning areas.
Workers and businesses tied to offshore oil and gas development in the affected planning areas will lose potential future jobs and contract opportunities due to the ban on new leasing.
Taxpayers and local governments could see reduced federal and state revenue because foregone lease sales and production royalties from the barred areas will not materialize to fund public services.
Consumers and taxpayers in the region may face higher energy costs or greater reliance on other energy sources if limiting offshore development constrains domestic supply.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits the federal government from issuing any lease or other authorization for oil or natural gas exploration, development, or production in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning areas off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. The ban applies even if other laws or programs would otherwise allow leasing and covers the specific Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California planning areas shown in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s 2024–2029 OCS leasing materials.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Jared Huffman · Last progress April 10, 2025