Press Release 11/1/21

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today applauded the inclusion of his initiatives in the Build Back Better Act that permanently ban offshore drilling along the Atlantic Coast, bolster offshore wind, and invest in coastal resiliency. Specifically, the bill permanently bans new offshore oil and gas leasing along the Atlantic Coast, Pacific Coast, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico. It provides $6 billion to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for projects that conserve, restore, and protect coastal and marine habitats to increase climate resilience of coastal communities. It also provides billions of dollars in funding for clean energy technology, including offshore wind.

“The Build Back Better Act provides robust investments for coastal states like New Jersey to tackle the climate crisis and accelerate our transition to a clean economy. I applaud the Biden Administration for supporting my proposal for a permanent ban on offshore drilling along the Atlantic Coast,” Pallone said. “I’ve been leading this fight for decades because there’s simply no logical reason to put our coastal communities along the Jersey Shore at risk with unnecessary and dangerous drilling. Investments for offshore wind will help expedite the benefits of clean energy that we are already working so hard to develop in New Jersey. The bill’s $6 billion investment in coastal resiliency – modeled after my Living Shorelines Act – will help effectively mitigate future flooding while benefiting local economies.”

In May, Pallone reintroduced the COAST Anti-Drilling Act that would ban offshore drilling in the Atlantic. In June, Pallone also reintroduced his Living Shorelines Act to improve the resiliency of coastal communities by protecting them against sea level rise and stronger storms caused by climate change. Pallone held a hearing in his Energy and Commerce Committee in October that highlighted the importance of offshore wind in the fight against the climate crisis.