U.S. Moves to Expand Leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Reversing Rollbacks; Drilling Still Years Away
The Trump administration has moved to expand oil and gas leasing across the full coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska and to reopen areas in the National Petroleum Reserve that the Biden administration had restricted; NPR-A rules took effect on October 29, while the refuge leasing plan is expected to be completed within weeks. Industry groups welcomed the step, while Gwich'in tribal leaders and environmental organizations oppose it and are preparing lawsuits, and the policy could swing again under a new administration in 2029.
There is currently no active drilling in the refuge, and because roads, pipelines and ice infrastructure are lacking, actual drilling remains years away even after legal challenges conclude. Alaska officials estimate that full development could create about 10,000 construction and operations jobs and generate roughly $1.1 billion a year for the state, though an approximately $10 million exploration estimate flagged in reporting could slow the pace. The refuge, home to polar bears, caribou and migratory birds, has been a five-decade battleground between energy development and conservation.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：阿拉斯加北极国家野生动物保护区。Steven Chase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 摄，Public domain，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Photo by Steven Chase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
