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Three Cabinet members are traveling to Alaska as the Trump administration pursues oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and reinvigorates a natural gas project that’s languished for years.
The visit by Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin comes after Trump signed an executive order earlier this year aimed at boosting oil and gas drilling, mining and logging in Alaska. It also comes amid tariff talks with Asian countries that the administration sees as possible leverage to secure investments in the proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas project.
Their itinerary includes a meeting Sunday with resource development groups and U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski visited Anchorage before traveling to Utqiagvik, an Arctic town critical for oil development.
Federal officials plan to visit Prudhoe Bay oil field by the Arctic coast, then speak at Gov. Dunleavy’s energy conference in Anchorage.
While U.S. officials often visit Alaska during warmer weather months, Dunleavy’s office emphasized the significance of their visit. Dunleavy, a Trump ally, expressed his gratitude for an administration that “recognizes Alaska’s unique value.”
Government and industry representatives from a number of Asian countries, including Japan, will participate in a portion of the trip, as the U.S. pressures them to invest in the pipeline — despite skepticism and opposition from environmental groups.
In Alaska, some environmentalists criticized the agenda for Dunleavy’s conference. Highlighting fossil fuels alongside renewable or alternative energy make “energy sources of the past look more legitimate at a conference like this,” said Andy Moderow, senior policy director with the Alaska Wilderness League.
“We should focus on climate solutions for Alaskans, not open up the Arctic refuge,” he said.
Trump has claimed credit for a 2017 tax law supported by Alaska’s delegation, leading to an ongoing dispute over Arctic drilling leases canceled by Biden. But now being reinstated following a court ruling favoring Trump’s policy.
No bidders participated in the second sale, which Biden held and the state blasted as overly restrictive.
I’m truly sorry to hear about the dangers facing Alaska due to gas pipeline and oil drilling activities. It’s concerning how our pursuit of resources can threaten such a pristine environment. My thoughts are with those advocating for its protection.
I appreciate the need for energy, but drilling in Alaska poses too great a threat to our wildlife and ecosystems. We should prioritize sustainable alternatives instead of putting our precious landscapes at risk.