I am very worried about President Biden’s ban on new oil and gas leases. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. energy production exceeded U.S. energy consumption on an annual basis for the first time since 1957. This is essential because it means we don’t have to rely on countries with fewer environmental or human rights standards for energy. However, with Biden’s order, that could be reversed.

Royalties collected on offshore oil and gas leases help fund critical environmental projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This fund maintains federal public lands and waters, including our national parks. The National Park Service already has a $12 billion maintenance backlog. The Great American Outdoors Act will help this, but it only provides half of the funds needed.

It shouldn’t be harder to fund projects that protect our nation’s environment. While banning oil and gas leases may seem environmentally friendly, it could increase our reliance on big polluters abroad.

As a young person, I wish we would do better for our environment and reverse this ban.

Shakira Jackson

Philadelphia

The writer is a student at the University of Pittsburgh.

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