Exemptions to the Endangered Species Act should only be granted in one of two circumstances—if there is no other means of achieving the same economic benefit in an area, or if it is in the country's best interest. It's safe to say that neither of those conditions have been met.

While drilling for more oil and gas would allow us to scale up domestic production, the risks far outweigh the benefits. There will be more oil spills contaminating our oceans—oil spills we lack the capacity to quickly clean up due to federal budget and staffing cuts—risking irreversible damage to marine life, vital habitats, and other critical ecosystems. If we truly want to bolster energy independence and security as the war in Iran continues, clean energy offers us a much cheaper, safer, and financially rewarding path forward.