The Bureau of Land Management plans to open up more than 50,000 acres of public land in Colorado to oil and gas developers in December.
The agency’s Colorado office has scheduled the lease sale of 60 oil and gas parcels for Dec. 9, according to a statement issued Friday. Bidding for the BLM sales will occur online.
The Trump administration has stepped up oil and gas leasing this year, touting a mission to boost fossil fuels to achieve “energy dominance.” The administration has simultaneously gummed up many renewable energy projects in stop-work orders or cancellations.
The Western Energy Alliance, an oil and gas industry group, welcomed the news on Friday, saying the Trump administration was bringing leasing back on track after being “stymied” during the Biden administration. U.S. oil production hit all-time highs under former President Joe Biden, and it has continued to set new records under President Donald Trump.
