Gov. Spencer Cox responds to President Biden’s executive order suspending new oil and gas leases

(SALT LAKE CITY) — In response to President Biden’s executive order placing an indefinite
moratorium on new leases for oil and gas development on federal lands, Gov. Spencer J. Cox
issued the following statement:
“Unity in our nation can only be reached when we work together to solve complex challenges.
I’m disappointed in President Biden’s decision to indefinitely pause all new oil and gas leasing
on federal lands. His action was taken without coordination with the state to determine how his
decision would impact rural Utah and those that live there.
“While the President’s order does not suspend existing leases, a long-term pause and its
accompanying hold on new energy development harms future production and investment
statewide. Two-thirds of our lands are public lands managed by the federal government. As with
last week's moratorium on mining and energy development, today's order curtails future
investment in Utah, weakens rural Utah’s economy and keeps many Utahns from being able to
provide for their families.”