House Natural Resources Republicans assailed Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Liz Klein in a hearing Thursday for seeking increased funding for offshore wind while slowing down offshore oil leasing.
“We cannot let the Department of the Interior sacrifice the livelihoods and security of Americans on the altar of hollow commitments to environmental activists,” said Energy and Mineral Resources Chair Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), calling on Klein to hold more offshore oil sales.
Republicans on the committee have criticized BOEM’s offshore energy strategy after its winter announcement of just three oil lease sales over the next five years — a historic low.
And in March the agency requested $52 million for BOEM’s renewable energy program to help streamline wind permitting and increase tribal engagement, an increase over the fiscal 2024 enacted level.
