Trump plans massive expansion of offshore oil drilling, California governor opposes

(Patria) - The administration of President Donald Trump plans to open millions of square kilometers of U.S. coastal waters for oil and gas drilling, it announced on Thursday, in a step that could lead to a massive expansion of fossil fuel extraction, AFP reported.

This move comes at a time when Washington is increasingly diverging from much of the developed world, where there is growing acceptance of the reality of human-caused climate change.

According to the plan released by the U.S. Department of the Interior, 34 leases will be offered, enabling drilling on 1.27 billion acres - an area the size of the Amazon.

The proposal includes waters off the northern coast of Alaska that have never been drilled before, in the Gulf of Mexico, which the administration calls the Gulf of America, and off the coast of California.

"The Biden administration abruptly halted offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of U.S. offshore production," said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, referring to Trump's predecessor Joe Biden.

Burgum insisted that offshore energy production requires a lot of time and investment.

"By continuing to develop a robust, forward-looking leasing plan, we ensure that the U.S. offshore industry remains strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come."

Trump often speaks about what he calls the need for America to drill more fossil fuels and dismisses the global transition to renewable energy, which he calls a "scam."

He regularly calls climate change science a "scam."

Under Trump's presidency, the United States has withdrawn from international agreements to combat climate change and did not send an official delegation to the ongoing COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

But the plans announced on Thursday are likely to face opposition on the domestic front, especially from California, whose government has committed to blocking drilling in the state's coastal waters.

"Trump's idiotic plan threatens our coastal economy and communities and harms the well-being of Californians. This reckless attempt to sell off our coast to his big oil donors is dead in the water," said Governor Gavin Newsom.
"Californians remember the environmental and economic devastation of past oil spills. For decades, California has stood firm in its opposition to new offshore drilling, and nothing will change that," he added.

The proposals are also expected to face opposition in the Gulf, where memories of the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, in which millions of liters of oil destroyed tourism and fishing, still linger.

Rick Scott, Republican senator for Florida, quickly voiced his objections to Trump's plan.

"Florida's coasts must remain off the table for oil drilling to protect Florida's tourism, environment, and military training opportunities," he wrote on social media platform X.