By Charles Young, WV News
WASHINGTON (WV News) — West Virginia’s senatorial representatives have opposing viewpoints on President Joe Biden’s executive actions on energy policy.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D.W.Va., chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, each issued statements Wednesday commenting on the president’s latest actions.
Manchin said he spoke to the White House Tuesday evening about Biden’s directive to the Interior Department to halt new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters.
“They informed me they are pausing new oil and gas leases on federal lands in order to fully evaluate the state of production on current leases. Currently, 53% of onshore acres leased and 77% of offshore acres leased have no active production,” Manchin said. “It is prudent to evaluate if taxpayers are receiving a fair return for the use of their resources. This executive order will not impact energy activity like drilling or permitting on existing leases.” …