Anchorage, Alaska – With news breaking late last night that the Department of Interior was cancelling a lease that would have put over a million acres of federal subsea areas into producers' hands, with potential for oil and gas development for up to 40 years, Power The Future Alaska State Director Rick Whitbeck issued the following statement:

"President Biden, Interior Secretary Haaland and Domestic Climate Czar Gina McCarthy have a skewed vision for 'doing everything possible' to control the highest gas prices ever. Cancelling the Cook Inlet lease sale – especially one mandated by federal law with a drop-dead date next month and using the pitiful excuse that industry wasn't interested – is rich, even for this Administration."

"With gas prices hitting new highs, inflation not seen since the Carter Administration and American families facing food shortages due to supply-chain debacles, the Biden Administration is failing at nearly every conceivable way for our citizenry. The slight-of-hand from the Administration, blaming everyone but themselves for the mess America is in currently, has gone past silly and suspect to critical and catastrophic. The decision to cancel the Cook Inlet lease is just another example of eco-extremism run amok; extremism that has a direct effect on jobs and family security for Alaskans across our state," Whitbeck noted.

The Biden Administration's decision was announced just as, for the third day in a row, the national average for a gallon of gasoline broke a record for the highest price.

Power The Future is a 501c4 non-profit dedicated to fighting for American energy workers.