Gov. Spencer Cox responds to President Biden’s executive order on new leases for oil and gas development on federal lands

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 27, 2021) — In response to President Biden’s executive order placing an indefinite moratorium on new leases for oil and gas development on federal lands, Gov. Spencer J. Cox issued the following statement:

“Unity in our nation can only be reached when we work together to solve complex challenges. I’m disappointed in President Biden’s decision to indefinitely pause all new oil and gas leasing on federal lands. His action was taken without coordination with the state to determine how his decision would impact rural Utah and those that live there.

“While the President’s order does not suspend existing leases, a long-term pause and its accompanying hold on new energy development harms future production and investment statewide. Two-thirds of our lands are public lands managed by the federal government. As with last week’s moratorium on mining and energy development, today’s order curtails future investment in Utah, weakens rural Utah’s economy and keeps many Utahns from being able to provide for their families.”

Download the statement here.

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