The Biden administration on Friday expressed support for a major oil drilling project in the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve, despite Biden’s campaign promise to end oil and gas leasing on federal lands. sen. Lisa Murkowsi (R-AK), who supports the project, hailed the review’s publication as an “important announcement.” The project was initially approved by the Trump administration, when blocked by a federal court for failing to take sufficient account of the effects of climate and wildlife, and supported by the Biden administration†
While the review is not final, pending a 45-day public comment period, confirms the government’s release of the assessment signals, once again, for the proposed multi-billion dollar ConocoPhillips “Willow” project that, over its lifetime, would emit as much CO2 as one-third of all US coal-fired power plants. “Totally furious that [@Interior] is a pro forma step away from the approval of the ConocoPhillips Willow project,” CAP senior VP for energy and environment Christy Goldfuss tweeted friday†
Dyani Chapman, Alaska Environment Director of State, called it “absurd… Alaska doesn’t need any part of it,” pointing out that it’s “a proposal to literally refreeze the tundra that is melting due to climate change to drill for more oil that will be burned and climate change will slow down.” worsen.”
sources: Washington Post † New York Times † Anchorage Daily News† The hill† CNN† Wall Street Journal †
Related earlier (more optimistic) story: Interior Nixes Oil and Gas Lease Sales in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico
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