Interior announces $14.2B in energy revenue

The Interior Department disbursed $14.2 billion in energy production on public lands and offshore waters in 2013.

That’s a 17 percent increased from fiscal year 2012, according to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

{mosads}The revenue is distributed among state, local, federal and tribal accounts and represents the second highest on record for the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

The funds fueled reclamation, conservation, recreation and historic preservation projects.

“Domestic energy production infuses funding into communities across the United States that creates American jobs, fosters land and water conservation efforts, improves critical infrastructure, and supports education,” Jewell said in a statement.  

“The funding reflects significant energy production from public resources in the United States and serves as a critical revenue stream for federal and state governments and tribal communities.”

A chunk of the 20113 increase comes from $2.77 billion in bids for new oil and gas leases in Gulf of Mexico federal waters.

Last year, oil production from federal waters was up by 7 percent from 2008 and onshore federal oil production is above 2008 levels by 35 percent, according to the Interior.

Interior has held 26 of the 30 onshore oil and gas lease sales planned for public lands this year.