Alaska Republicans Blast Biden for Reversing Trump-era Plan to Expand Drilling in State(election antics)

townhall.com ^ | 1/12/2022 0800 hrs et | Leah Barkoukis

[rktman]

Despite soaring energy prices, the Biden administration on Monday said it would scrap a Trump-era policy that would have opened millions of acres in Alaska to new oil development.

The Trump administration had given the green light to expanded leasing and development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, “one of the most promising onshore oil prospects in the country,” The Washington Post reported at the time. The plan would’ve opened about 82 percent of the reserve to fossil fuel extraction. Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said it was part of President Trump’s commitment to “expand access to our Nation’s great energy potential.”

"A recent analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey offered a mean estimate of 8.7 billion barrels in undiscovered oil and 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas" in the reserve, WaPo said in its 2020 report.

In a statement, the Bureau of Land Management said the new “decision reflects the Biden-Harris administration's priority of reviewing existing oil and gas programs to ensure balance on America's public lands and waters to benefit current and future generations.”

Alaska Republicans blasted the reversal.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski @lisamurkowski The Biden administration has decided to upend the NPR-A’s current management plan to return to an outdated policy that is worse for our state’s economy, worse for our nation’s energy security, and contrary to federal law.

[rktman]

Well I'm thinking, at least for murkee-cow-ski, this is election antics. How else can brandon get the cost of gas up? Heard a barrel of oil went to $83 yesterday.

[Vigilanteman]

Daughter has in-laws in Alaska. We saw then over the holidays and they told us that every resident of Alaska used to get $3000 from the state trust fund annually paid by the drillers. It is now down to $1000.

So they aren't happy. You must be physically present in the state for nine months of the year or more, so summertime soldiers can't claim it.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I’m thinking Tester. A vote for him is a vote against Alaskan energy (Montana’s too)but do the voters know that?

[Magnum44]

[TexasFreeper2009]

I dont understand why Trump didn’t write contracts to the oil companies that couldn’t be broken by Biden? Just give the oil company the right to drill for 100 years or whatever in a contract that can’t be ignored by the president.

[Socon-Econ]

Better “election antics” than not at all. The hard part for Republicans is always keeping the pressure on after the election.

[livius]

I guess maybe she’s getting the message…I don’t care why she’s doing it, actually, just do it. Alaskans have got to keep the pressure on her.

[taxcontrol]

I am of the opinion that the next President (hopefully a conservative) will be compiling a list of President Biden’s executive orders that he can reverse on day 1. Have the documents ready so that on Feb 21st, the reversals all get signed at one big party.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Just ignore it. What are they going to do? Send troops to Alaska?