President Biden promised to make a big-government green agenda a priority in his administration, and early signs suggest that wasn’t just talk.
“President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a series of executive orders that prioritize climate change across all levels of government and put the U.S. on track to curb planet-warming carbon emissions,” CNBC reports.
“Biden’s orders direct the secretary of the Interior Department to halt new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters, and begin a thorough review of existing permits for fossil fuel development,” the report continues. “In addition to the pause on leasing, Biden will direct the federal government to conserve 30% of federal lands and water by 2030 and find ways to double offshore wind production by that time.”
What’s the downside?
Well, such sweeping government actions always have a wide array of unintended consequences. But right off the bat, the Wall Street Journal editorial board warns this will “erase thousands of blue-collar jobs—and billions of dollars in revenue that states use to fund education.”