The following OpEd by ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer and Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) appeared on Bakersfield.com
There’s no question that America’s energy landscape is rapidly evolving. But even as the shift toward more renewable energy gains momentum, we can’t lose sight of the pressing need for our existing sources of energy — not just to fuel our cars or to keep the heat running in our homes, but for much, much more.
The oil and gas industry accounts for a quarter of Kern County’s revenue, which provides funding for vital public services like schools, law enforcement and hospitals. What most people don’t realize, however, is that our communities also benefit from offshore oil and gas leasing in Gulf states like Louisiana and Texas.
A federal program known as the Land and Water Conservation Fund has created a channel for revenues from offshore leasing to support projects across the country. Many of these projects include national and state parks, as well as community parks, playgrounds and recreational centers. Since its inception, the program has contributed more than $5 billion to support more than 45,000 projects across the country.
Last year, California received more money from the LWCF than any other state. Close to 7,500 projects across California have received funding from the LWCF — 43 of those projects are in California’s 22nd Congressional District. Here in Kern County, the LWCF provided funding for projects like solar lighting and outdoor fitness facilities at Westside Park in Wasco, lighting for Heritage Park, and a sprinkler system for Hart Memorial Park. These investments make our local and state parks safer, cleaner and more accessible for public use.
More than 75 California state parks also rely on funding from the LWCF, which are a huge driver of tourism for the state. Overall, the California Department of Parks and Recreation provides for nearly $5 billion annually of all state economic revenue. Without offshore leasing revenue from the LWCF, many national, state and local parks would struggle to stay afloat, jeopardizing the positive environmental and financial impact these projects have on our community. In fact, the state parks department recently announced that it will receive $24.8 million from LWCF for outdoor recreation projects.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration’s five-year offshore leasing plan puts the LWCF at risk. The administration’s proposed plan includes just three new lease sales through 2029 — the smallest number in the program’s history. If approved, this plan will have devastating consequences for our nation’s energy security and affordability, as well as the largest source of conservation funding in the U.S.
While we, as a country, should continue to develop and pursue other sources of energy, we cannot abandon traditional energy sources. We support an all-of-the-above approach to energy production and use, and that does not mean immediately transitioning to 100% renewable fuels. Oil and gas production must still be a part of a diverse energy portfolio.
The LWCF is slowly depleting, creating a chain reaction as less financial support is available for projects that depend on this valuable funding. Given the conservation funding that it provides, plus the critical role it plays in our nation’s energy security, the Biden administration needs to reevaluate its approach to offshore drilling.
As time ticks on, many parks across the nation are losing the precious LWCF funding that helps to provide financial support to these projects. To put it simply — offshore leasing is not just about energy production; it is also about support for the parks, playgrounds and recreational facilities in our backyard. If we continue down the Biden administration’s stated goal of moving away from the oil and gas production within the next 10 years, it’s communities in Kern County that will pay the price.
Jeff Kupfer is president of ConservAmerica, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that advocates for market-based solutions to the country’s conservation and environmental challenges. David Valadao is the representative for California’s 22nd Congressional District, which includes portions of Kings, Tulare and Kern counties.
This OpEd appeared on Bakersfield.com on November 19, 2023.