Hudson Introduces Bill to Unleash Atlantic Offshore Energy, Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Co-Chairman of the Atlantic Offshore Energy Caucus, introduced legislation to require the administration to make Atlantic lease sales off North Carolina’s coast available for offshore exploration and development.

“Today’s legislation is crucial to open our state to energy exploration, unlock North Carolina jobs and strengthen our energy security while protecting our environment,” said Rep. Hudson. “I will continue to work to get North Carolina into the energy business.”

While there is broad bipartisan support for oil and gas leasing off the southeastern Atlantic coast, the administration reversed course and removed the Atlantic lease sale. The North Carolina Opening Fossil Fuels Safely and Harnessing Opportunities for Robust Employment (NC OFFSHORE) Act (H.R. 4749) requires the administration to make available one lease sale off North Carolina’s coast every year for five years. This mandate begins two years after enactment. In addition, it:

Rep. Hudson has continued to be on the front lines of this debate. In February, Rep. Hudson sent a letter to Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell urging the Department to retain the full area included in the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for Atlantic lease sale 260.

Rep. Hudson serves as Co-Chairman of the Atlantic Offshore Energy Caucus, a committee that works to advance policies that explore and expand energy production in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf as part of an all-of-the-above national energy strategy.