The governor of Texas, the largest oil and gas producing state in the United States, pledged Thursday (Jan. 28) to push back against President Joe Biden‘s executive order limiting oil and gas production. The governor said the Biden executive order would cripple energy production in Texas.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday suspending the issuance of new oil and gas lease permits in federal territory, as well as cutting fossil fuel subsidies.
On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) authorized state agencies to use all legal means to bring legal challenges to Biden’s policies.
“When it comes to threats to your jobs, you will have a governor on your side.” Abbott told workers at a Texas oilfield service company where he signed the order.
“The state of Texas (government) will protect the oil and gas industry from any kind of hostile attack from Washington, D.C.,” he said.
Abbott has filed lawsuits against the federal government 31 times during his tenure as Texas attorney general. He said state agencies should find opportunities to sue the federal government because it has acted excessively.
The Texas governor also said Texas cities are prohibited from blocking the use of natural gas equipment under a state bill he plans to file.
Texas produces 41 percent of U.S. Crude Oil and 25 percent of natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday suspending the issuance of new oil and gas lease permits in the federal territory, as well as cutting fossil fuel subsidies. On Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (pictured) authorized state agencies to file legal challenges to Biden’s policies. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Biden’s executive order establishes “a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on public lands or near-coastal waters to the extent possible” and initiates “a rigorous review of all existing leases and permits related to fossil fuel development on public lands and waters.
The White House said the measure was needed to “address the climate crisis” in line with Biden’s campaign promises. Congressional Republicans strongly oppose Biden’s policy, saying it is a job-killer and a threat to national security.
“The Western Energy Alliance filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Wyoming state district court alleging that Biden’s order exceeds his presidential authority and violates the Mineral Leasing Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
Texas is not suing Biden for the first Time, as Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit last Friday over Biden’s 100-day moratorium on illegal immigrant deportations. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Tuesday to prevent the administration from implementing the president’s executive order.
Paxton said he encouraged state attorneys general across the country to look at what’s happening, whether it’s an executive order or a decree, and that no one is above the law, including the president.
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