The Trump administration has dubbed Wednesday’s Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas lease sale as the largest in US history and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has called it a “bellwether” for America’s offshore energy future. But on Tuesday, US offshore representatives downplayed the market and policy significance of the Gulf lease sale, known as Lease Sale 250, which will be held in New Orleans Wednesday. “Industry’s views on the tracts available tomorrow do not necessarily say much, if anything, about industry’s interest in [the eastern Gulf of Mexico] or Atlantic one to six years from now,” said Christopher Guith, a senior vice president for policy at the US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Energy Institute. “Economics will still be a major factor in tomorrow’s sale,” said Nicolette Nye, a spokeswoman for the National Ocean Industries Association. “While overall commodity prices have shown improvement, companies are still likely to take […]