Tag Archives: drilling rights

Finally…A Step Toward America’s Energy Independence

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On Monday, The Daily Caller reported the following:

The Biden administration announced on Monday it will proceed with the smallest possible oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

This move barely meets the mandates set by Congress, under the shadow of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Bureau of Land Management is compelled to auction drilling rights in this pristine wilderness by year’s end, despite vocal opposition from many within the Democratic Party, according to The Hill. This approach includes leasing exactly 400,000 acres—the least required by law.

Set for Jan. 9, the impending lease sale positions itself as a contentious prelude to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office a mere 11 days later, The Hill reported. This timing is a potential pivot towards more expansive energy policies favored by the previous Trump administration, which executed the first such lease sale in 2021.

It has taken seven years to get this lease sale moving. The lease sale and the subsequent oil retrieved will be a boon to both the American economy and the people of Alaska, who receive revenue from drilling in their state.

The article notes:

The Biden administration had previously suspended several leases issued during the 2021 sale, citing “multiple legal deficiencies,” the outlet said. Citing the need for ecological preservation, the current administration is confining the upcoming sale to areas deemed to have the highest potential for oil and gas findings, explicitly avoiding regions critical for polar bear denning and migratory bird nesting.

The article concludes:

In 2023, Biden said that he had aimed to halt all drilling along the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Gulf, but legal defeats hindered these plans. He disclosed this in response to a question about fulfilling his extensive climate and green energy promises to younger constituents.

Hopefully, this lease sale will be utilized quickly as part of President Trump’s plan for energy independence for America.

Toward Energy Independence

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One America News is reporting today that Senator Lisa Murkowski will propose legislation to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The article reports:

In a tweet Senator Lisa Murkowski said the bill will create jobs, keep energy affordable, and reduce the deficit.

The legislation would open up roughly one-and-a-half million acres of the refuge to oil and gas drilling

It would also allow federal officials to sell leases for drilling rights.

Analysts claim the move could increase federal revenues by more than one billion dollars over the next decade.

The bill only requires a simple majority to pass in the Senate.

There will be a hearing next week.

The House Committee on Natural Resources has the following information on its website:

Opening less than 3% of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska for responsible energy production could create thousands of jobs, generate billions in new revenue and help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Small Area = Big Energy Potential

  • The North Slope of ANWR, known as “Area 1002”, was specifically set aside by Congress and President Carter in 1980 for oil and natural development. This area is not designated as Wilderness.
  • A plan developing 500,000 acres—less than three percent of ANWR’s acreage—would provide access to the majority of ANWR’s resources.

Supplying America’s Families and Businesses with American Energy

  • According to U.S. Geological Survey estimates, the North Slope contains an estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil.
    • This is more than the known oil reserves of entire countries that the U.S. currently imports oil from, including: Mexico, Angola, Azerbaijan, Norway, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • At peak production, ANWR could supply up to 1.45 million barrels of oil per day.
    • This is more than the U.S. imports from Saudi Arabia every day.
    • Alternatively, 1.45 million barrels of oil per day is over one quarter of what the U.S. imports from OPEC countries each year.

The article at the House Committee on Natural Resources website includes the following map, which shows how little of ANWR would be impacted by the drilling permits.

I think it is time to stop the unnecessary hysteria and begin to develop America’s energy resources.