Groups push Congress to boost oil and gas leasing rates

Various public interest groups are renewing a push for congressional Democrats to update “outdated” oil and gas leasing rules and fees in the emerging budget “reconciliation” bill that is expected to include major climate mitigation policies. Public Citizen and six other environmental and other groups in a Sept. 28 letter urge top Democrats to “incorporate reconciliation language approved by the House Natural Resources Committee updating federal oil and gas bonding standards and minimum bids, rents, and royalty rates; ending non-competitive...