Since that action, which was derided by environmentalists as contrary to expressed policy goals of reducing combustion of fossil fuels, the administration is taking significant steps to fulfill its campaign promise of no new drilling on federal lands. Biden said in a statement that, “We have a responsibility to protect this treasured region for all ages.” Pundits surmise that Biden was surprised by the angry response of environmental groups to his approval of Chevron's massive Willow Project in the NPR, which had been in the political works for an extended period. Industry spokespersons have said it will challenge the drilling ban in federal court, as will the state of Alaska. Predictably, gas prices are rising again. This punishing of consumers for energy policies it does not like has become the favorite industry means of affecting public sentiment.
Defendant Trump's regime opened the National Wildlife Reserve to drilling, reversing six decades of protection for the largest piece of untouched wilderness in the United States. However it sits atop an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil. Industry and the state have been eager to exploit this huge resource. When the regime held a lease sale, only three bidders including the state of Alaska submitted bids. Anticipating further government action, private companies did not participate. On his first day in office Biden signed an executive order suspending the leases while environmental impacts were studied further. Further review found multiple legal deficiencies in the original environmental assessment. Two leaseholders canceled their leases and requested refunds. The state of Alaska's lease of 365,000 acres was cancelled this Wednesday. Interior Secretary Haaland said this action was taken because, "There are some places where oil and gas drilling and industrial development simply do not belong,”
Temperatures in the Arctic region are climbing four times faster that the rest of the globe, thawing ancient permafrost and melting glaciers. Native people through the Gwich’in Steering Committee have expressed their desire to end drilling on the North Slope. Given the lack of interest expressed by the industry in more leasing beyond the already developed Prudhoe Bay Area, only the state remains recalcitrant.