Albany, NY – The New York State Assembly passed a ban on offshore oil and natural gas production for the second consecutive year. The legislation was motivated by a Presidential Executive Order on April 28, 2017 titled “America-First Offshore Energy Strategy” which launched efforts by the United States Department of Interior to expand natural gas and oil drilling. These efforts include plans for the “2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program” by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The BOEM proposal includes two potential lease sales in the North Atlantic Region, which includes New York State. [1]^,[2]

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Northwest Bronx) issued the following statement following the Assembly’s passage of this ban:

“We should be reducing investments in antiquated and environmentally destructive fossil fuel expansion, but instead the federal government is hell-bent on expanding these efforts in more dangerous ways than ever before. No rational person would suggest that we build more oil rigs off of our nation’s coast, especially when we’ve seen countless examples of the destruction oil spills can have on maritime economies and ecosystem health.

“While the corporation-in-chief and his big-money allies continue their misinformation campaign of climate change denial-ism, I am proud that the New York State Assembly has stood up and said no more fossil fuels. I will continue to fight for a sustainable and renewable energy portfolio in New York State and will continue to oppose all expansions of fossil fuel production. The time to act on climate change is almost gone – we must take immediate steps to avert the worst impacts and mitigate the damage that has already been done.”