Lawmakers concerned by Biden’s decision to halt new oil and gas permits on federal land

March 6, 2021 KT1 US 0

Joe Biden participates in a roundtable discussion on a coronavirus relief package in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Joe Biden participated in a roundtable discussion on a coronavirus relief package in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) slammed Joe Biden as a bipartisan group spoke out against his gas production policies.

“President Biden’s embrace of the Green New Deal is a job killer in Texas,” Abbott stated.

House lawmakers have reportedly crafted a letter addressing Biden’s pause on new oil and gas leasing permits on federal land. The letter outlined how Biden’s executive order has created dangerous conditions, with increased “environmental hazards” and gas flaring due to the suspension of permits for waste removal pipelines.

NORCO, LA - AUGUST 21: A gas flare from the Shell Chemical LP petroleum refinery illuminates the sky on August 21, 2019 in Norco, Louisiana. Located about 10 miles up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, the plant agreed to install $10 million in pollution monitoring and control equipment in 2018 to settle allegations that flares used to burn off emissions were operating in violation of federal law (the Clean Air Act). Many of the coastal parishes in Louisiana have a long and ongoing history in oil and gas production, which is often at odds with concerns of environmentalists. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

NORCO, LA – AUGUST 21: A gas flare from the Shell Chemical LP petroleum refinery illuminated the sky on August 21, 2019 in Norco, Louisiana. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Experts are now warning of increased foreign oil dependence.

“It’s really bad for oil and gas business, bad for the country,” Tommy Taylor, director of oil and gas development for Fasken Oil said. “You know we’re energy independent now, and it just means we’re going to probably make less oil and gas, and we’re going to have to import more, probably from the Middle East.”

The American Petroleum Institute projected at least one million job losses by 2022, and a $700 billion decrease in GDP.

Despite claiming to support natural gas, Biden has called the Green New Deal the “framework” for his plan to eliminate usage of the energy source.