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By Bethany Blankley |
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In response to the Biden administration suspending new oil and gas leases on federal land for 60 days, oil and gas companies in the South and Southwest warned that doing so would impact hundreds of thousands of jobs and destroy the economy of some states.
Under the new Biden Administration, the Acting Interior Secretary signed a 60-day Temporary Suspension of Delegated Authority, which among other directives suspends the issuance of federal onshore and offshore oil and natural gas leasing permits.
“Should this action become permanent, it would be devastating to jobs, communities and economies nationwide and would set back tremendous environmental progress,” the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) said.
Power The Future-New Mexico called on New Mexican leaders to oppose the decision, arguing it was the first of many to ultimately implement a permanent ban.
The TXOGA, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) released an analysis last year warning that
suspending leases would cost 200,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast region alone.
The offshore Gulf of Mexico accounts for over 15 percent of U.S. oil production, and researchers found that local economies in the Gulf Coast region would be among the hardest hit areas with more than 200,000 job losses by 2022 and millions of dollars in reduced revenue.
In New Mexico, roughly half of the state’s oil and gas production occurs on federal land. Banning it “would be nothing short of devastating to New Mexico’s energy workers and the state’s economy,” Power the Future says.
“If New Mexico’s leaders care about our jobs and our economy, they will immediately begin the process of seeking relief including securing a waiver, from President Biden’s anti-energy agenda,” Larry Behrens, Western States Director for Power The Future, said. “This decision is going to destroy jobs and erode revenue needed for our schools, police and infrastructure. New Mexico’s leaders need to stand up for our working families and protect them from disastrous decisions coming out of Washington.”
Last September, a spokeswoman for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said it was “premature” to discuss a waiver from a potential Biden federal ban. Now, Power the Future argues the state must seek a waiver.
A recent study projected a ban would result in a loss of 62,000 jobs in New Mexico by the end of next year and jeopardize over $1 billion in state revenue.
According to a report published by The Hill, the order to establish a permanent moratorium would require the signature of New Mexican Congresswoman Deb Haaland, Biden’s pick to lead the Department of the Interior.
“Any action to restrict oil and gas activity in the United States only serves to reward other countries who do not share our commitment to environmental leadership and undercuts American energy security,” the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association told The Center Square.
“Oil and gas development on federal lands is a critical part of New Mexico’s economy, and restricting activity here risks the loss of more than 60,000 jobs and $800 million in support for our public schools, first responders, and healthcare services. New Mexico’s oil and gas producers are fully committed to fighting climate change and stand ready and willing to work with the Biden administration to drive environmental progress and keep responsible energy production moving forward across our country.”
Todd Staples, president of TXOGA, agrees, arguing that banning such development “not only threatens thousands of the best-paying jobs but needlessly erases much needed revenue that helps pay for schools and other essential services.”
He added, "American oil and natural gas is safe, clean and abundant, and misguided policies will only stifle our nation’s energy and environmental progress."
A TXOGA, LMOGA and API analysis found that banning leasing on federal land would costs states in the Gulf Coast region more than $223 million annually in revenue, including $65 million for Texas, $95 million for Louisiana, $31 million for Alabama and $32 million for Mississippi.
Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi could lose more than $22 million in funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the report found.
Offshore production for natural gas would decrease by 68 percent and for oil by 44 percent and U.S. oil imports from foreign sources would increase by 2 million barrels a day, the report estimated.
Nearly one million American jobs would be lost by 2022, including more than 200,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast region, the groups estimate, including nearly 120,000 jobs lost in Texas, more than 48,000 jobs in Louisiana, nearly 21,000 jobs in Alabama, and 14,000 jobs in Mississippi.
"The oil and natural gas industry is producing energy in cleaner and more efficient ways than 10 to 15 years ago all while producing more affordable and reliable energy to power our daily lives," Staples added. "Increased use of natural gas is the number one reason U.S. power sector carbon dioxide emissions have fallen 33% since 2007. Innovations in oil and natural gas development will continue to lead the way in environmental progress and smart, science-based policies must be in place to ensure a cleaner, stronger and better energy future here and across the globe."

It is not uncommon to see sales tax collection jump when there a disaster such as a flood due to a hurricane or heavy rain because parish residents spend money to repair their homes. Well, that theory is holding up once again.
Despite limited access to restaurants or bars and movie theaters, Vermilion Parish residents spent their money to either get ready for the busy hurricane season or to repair their homes after hurricane season.
In November, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of hurricane season, residents spent an impressive $430 million.
Before the pandemic and with a normal hurricane season, the average dollar spent in November was $380 million. Only once, since 2011, has Vermilion Parish spent more than $400 million in November. That was in 2013.
Because of the residents’ spending increase, sales tax collection in November was positive.
How positive?
As a whole, the parish collected $581,000 more in sales tax than a year ago when there was no pandemic.
The parish collected $3.5 million this past November, compared to $2.9 million last year.
The big three (School Board, Police Jury, and Sheriff’s Office) had a 22 percent increase in sales collection in November.
For example, the Police Jury collected $983,000 this November and only $803,000 last November.
The Sheriff’s Office collected just under $100,000 more.
The city of Abbeville had an increase in sales tax collection of 11 percent or $40,000. The city recently collected $431,000.
The town of Gueydan had an increase of 19 percent for a total collection of $16,500.
Kaplan’s collection was up 15 percent for a total collection of $59,000
Erath had an 8 percent increase for a collection of $22,000.
The town of Delcambre saw the most significant increase of 29 percent. The town collected $19,600, which is $4,000 more than normal.
.The hotels and motels were still occupied with hurricane evacuees in November, which helped increase the Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission Sales Tax Collection. The collection doubled from $3,000 to $6,000.
The Village of Maurice remained the same in sales tax collection. The Village collected $71,000, an increase of only $800.

According to PIO and Narcotics Task Force Commander Drew David, the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force made the following arrests for narcotics related offenses within the parish.
On Jan. 19, agents with the narcotics task force along with officers with the Abbeville Police Department executed a search warrant at 1101 Greene Street in Abbeville. Upon a search of the residence agents located a large amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a 9mm pistol, an AK 47, crack cocaine and a large amount of US Currency.
Agents arrested two juvenile subjects ages 16 and 17. The 17-year-old was charged with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and proceeds involved in drug transactions, while the 16 year old was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.
More arrests are expected in this case after further investigation.
Sheriff Couvillon would like to thank the Mayors, and their council, of Abbeville, Gueydan, Maurice, Erath, and Kaplan along with their Chiefs of Police, for their support of the Vermilion Municipal and Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force. Sheriff Couvillon also applauds the concerned citizens of Vermilion Parish for their awareness and assistance in helping the Task Force in fighting the war on illegal drugs. He encourages all citizens with information in regards to illegal drug activities to contact the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office or the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit at 337-740-4501 or E-mail the Task Force anonymously at taskforce@vpso.net and your e-mail will be held in the “strictest of confidence” and replied to in a very timely manner.
More information on reporting drug activities can be seen on our Web Site at www.vpso.net. Click on Narcotics and fill out the TURN IN A PUSHER information.

Boy, have things changed since Dale Stelly was the president of the Vermilion Parish School Board.
In 1981, he became the second-youngest school board member ever elected in Lousiana. He was only 26 years old.
In 1985, at the young age of 30, he was named the School Board president.
What was happening that year?
•Pecan Island, Meaux, Maurice, Indian Bayou and Henry still had high schools in their communities.
•Ronald Reagan was the United States president, and interest rates for a home loan were 10.75 percent.
• The popular movie in 1985 was “Back to the Future,” and an all-star group of musicians recorded the song, “We are the World.”
• The AIDS virus was on everyone’s mind at that time.
Exactly 36 years later, Stelly is again the new school board president.
The School Board elected Stelly by a vote of 7-0 as the new president. Dr. David Dupuis is the vice president of the school board.
Things have changed since Stelly’s last term as the president.
• There are no longer high schools in Meaux, Maurice, Henry, Indian Bayou and Pecan Island.
• Interest rates for home loans are only 2.75 percent and the COVID-19 Virus is on everyone’s minds.
Stelly, who is 66 years old, said the most significant challenge he and the board are facing is educating the students through the pandemic.
“I am hoping the vaccine works and we can get past this pandemic so that things can get back to normal,” Stelly said after the meeting. “It will be a tough year because of COVID and having to spend money to repair buildings.”
The school board approved taking the figure of up to $30 million as a line credit based on the bond commission. The school board can borrow as much as $30 million to repair school buildings damaged by two hurricanes this school year.
Superintendent Tommy Byler informed the board members that it is still too early to lock down a price on how much damage to some buildings suffered this past hurricane season. Byler is still waiting on estimated repair costs from architects.
“We are shooting for a $30 million line of credit, but we do not need to borrow that much,” Byler said. “We want our line of credit to be high.”
Byler said the school board needs to borrow money now because it needs to repair the building as soon as possible.
It could take FEMA four years to pay the school board the money to repair the buildings. The school board does not have an extra $30 million lying around to pay for the repairs.
Byler said FEMA would eventually pay the school board back once the repair projects are completed. When FEMA reimburses the school board, the school board will pay back the money it borrowed with FEMA’s money, Byler explained.