Energy production boomed during the Obama presidency . An increase in oil production was driven largely by a fracking boom spurred by private investment on private land , and played only a small role in this development . The Obama administration promoted the growth of renewable energy , and solar power generation tripled during Obama 's tenure . Obama also issued numerous energy efficiency standards , contributing to a flattening of growth of the total U.S. energy demand . In May 2010 , Obama extended a moratorium on offshore drilling permits after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill , which is generally considered to be the worst oil spill in U.S. history . In December 2016 , Obama invoked the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to ban offshore oil and gas exploration in large parts of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Presidency of Barack Obama