Biden’s Day One Executive Order Cripples ANWR

January 21, 2021

Joe Biden followed through on a campaign pledge; just the opening salvo of an all-out attack on Alaska’s energy workers.

Unveiled on his campaign website early in his run to the White House was this day-one promise, under his “Climate Plan” page:

“Protecting America’s natural resources by permanently protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas impacted by President Trump’s attack on federal lands and waters…”

And, unfortunately, he delivered the first step toward that plan by issuing an Executive Order within hours of his inauguration, halting all further efforts to put Alaskans to work by safely developing the 1002 area of ANWR. The order states:

In light of the alleged legal deficiencies underlying the program, including the inadequacy of the environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, place a temporary moratorium on all activities of the Federal Government relating to the implementation of the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program.

While eco-extremist organizations and misguided others who have opposed opening the 1002 area of ANWR for the past 40 years celebrated, the chance for thousands of jobs that would come with development immediately languished.

With vowed actions to limit development on federal lands and waters, to forcibly transition from traditional energy sources to “green” ones and inflict Alaskan households with tens of thousands of dollars in increased costs under Green New Deal-like policies, the Biden administration isn’t going to be friendly to Alaska.  We’ll continue to call out the actions as they happen – whether fast and furious or measured – and continue to fight for America’s energy community.