The Interior Department has stated that President Biden is persistently following through on the most ambitious climate agenda in the history of the United States.
The Biden administration made a significant move on Sunday, announcing the indefinite blocking of 16 million acres of federal land and water in Alaska from any future fossil fuel drilling. The Department of Interior (DOI) has taken the first step in a rulemaking process to protect 13 million acres of land in the National Petroleum Reserve, an area in North Slope Borough, Alaska, reserved by Congress for resource development. Additionally, President Biden has directed an additional 2.8 million acres in the Beaufort Sea of the Arctic Ocean, off the northern coast of Alaska, to be withdrawn from any oil and gas leasing.
Credit: Getty Images
Copyright: 2019 Getty Images
The Biden administration has dealt a major blow to the fossil fuel industry, announcing that it will be blocking 16 million acres of federal land and water in Alaska from future drilling.
“We are proud to announce significant steps to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Western Arctic Reserve, and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska from oil and gas exploration and drilling,” the Department of Interior said in a statement.
The decision is part of President Biden’s broader climate agenda, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift the country towards clean energy sources.
“With these actions, we are taking a critical step towards combating the climate crisis and protecting our environment for future generations,” the DOI added.
The Biden administration’s announcement to indefinitely block 16 million acres of federal land and water in Alaska from future fossil fuel drilling and to initiate a rulemaking process to “establish maximum protection” for 13 million acres of land across the National Petroleum Reserve has garnered criticism from a former senior Bureau of Land Management official who claimed that the decision is “a totally political decision, it’s not based on science, it’s not based on climate change, it’s not based on biological resources,” and that the administration is “pandering solely for political purposes and not paying attention to the science.” Furthermore, Biden’s actions also prevent the development of certain fossil fuel pipeline infrastructure and limit future fossil fuel production in several special areas known for their rich wildlife populations in northern Alaska.
“Pandering solely for political purposes and not paying attention to the science.” former senior Bureau of Land Management official claimed.
While the Biden administration is taking significant steps to limit fossil fuel drilling in Alaska, they are expected to approve three of five drilling sites for the Willow Project proposed by energy company ConocoPhillips, according to a congressional aide. This decision comes amidst accusations of the DOI’s attempt to placate climate activists, given the recent announcement of the indefinite blockage of 16 million acres of federal land and water from future fossil fuel drilling.
The DOI announcement appears to be an effort by the Biden administration to appease climate activists before announcing the approval of three out of five drilling sites for the Willow Project, a major 30-year oil drilling project in the National Petroleum Reserve.
ConocoPhillips has predicted that the project could create over 2,500 construction jobs, 300 long-term jobs, and generate up to $17 billion in revenue for the federal government, Alaska, and local communities, including many Indigenous groups. The project’s estimated output is 600 million barrels of oil over its three-decade lifespan.
While the final decision on the project will be published by the DOI, President Biden and his senior officials have been actively involved in the approval process.
It was a “complete betrayal” and “wrong direction” respectively said Democratic senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley.
The Biden administration’s approval of the Willow Project, a 30-year oil drilling project in Alaska, has drawn criticism from Democratic senators Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley who said it was a “complete betrayal” and “wrong direction” respectively. In contrast, Alaska’s congressional delegation, governor, and indigenous communities supported the project alongside the state’s entire legislature, labor unions, leaders of the North Slope Borough and the Alaska Federation of Natives. ConocoPhillips has projected that the Willow Project could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil per day, create thousands of jobs, and deliver billions of dollars in revenue for the federal government and local communities.
