Oil and gas companies would pay more to drill on public lands under new Biden rule

By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is proposing new rules for the nation’s oil and gas leasing program to raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and strengthen requirements to clean up old wells where drilling is completed or abandoned. The Interior Department rule would not prohibit new oil and gas leasing on public lands, as many environmental groups have urged and as President Joe Biden promised during the 2020 campaign. But officials said the proposal would lead to a more responsible leasing process that provides a better return to U.S. taxpayers. The rule announced Thursday codifies provisions in last year’s sweeping climate law and the 2021 infrastructure law.