Principal Jamie Auslander (Washington, DC) was quoted in Bloomberg Law’s article, “Climate Deal Marks Contentious Federal Fossil Fuels Commitment.” The article discusses the recent Senate bill reflecting terms agreed to by Senators Manchin and Schumer and how, among other things it would link future federal wind and solar approvals to ongoing federal oil and gas lease sales.

“It’s Congress saying we want all of the above, and you can’t hold wind leasing” without also leasing oil and gas, said Jamie. “It ties them together and it will force the Department of Interior to hold bona fide onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales in order to hold the domestic wind sales,” he said.

At the same time, several provisions of the bill would impose higher burdens on federal oil and gas leasing and development, including higher royalties, onshore land nomination fees, methane fees, and other changes. The bill’s details may shift somewhat in the coming days, but the proposed legislation is expected to move quickly to votes in Congress.