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WASHINGTON—Just in time for Earth Day, President Biden has announced an oil drilling ban on a significant portion of Alaska’s North Slope. The Department of the Interior also blocked a proposed industrial road that would have allowed access to copper reserves.
President Biden said in a statement, “Alaska’s majestic and rugged lands and waters are among the most remarkable and healthy landscapes in the world, sustaining a vibrant subsistence economy for Alaska Native communities.” In an effort to protect the vulnerable ecosystem, Biden’s latest action will conserve 13 million of the 23 million acres of the North Slope.
“But as the climate crisis imperils communities across the country, more must be done,” the statement continues. “My Administration will continue to take ambitious action to meet the urgency of the climate crisis, protect America’s lands and waters, and fulfill our responsibility to the next generation of Americans.”
Additionally, the administration has rejected a 211-mile industrial road proposal. Settled along the Brooks Range, the Ambler Road would have increased access to a copper deposit in the Alaskan wilderness. The mine it hoped to reach holds an estimated $7.5 billion worth of copper.
Oil Exploration in Alaska
Ranging over 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope is a national petroleum reserve. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding set aside the land as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy. Five decades later, control of the area was transferred to the Department of Interior. Following the switch, the government allowed corporations to take out oil leases in the area.
The North Slope hosts most of the onshore oil exploration that takes place in Alaska. Anywhere between 400,000 to over one million barrels of oil are derived from the region each day. Over 800 miles of pipeline are used to transport oil across the Alaskan wilderness to the Valdez Port.
Last year, environmental groups and Indigenous communities protested Biden’s approval of the Willow Project. The project, headed by American oil corporation ConocoPhillips, is a massive drilling venture on the North Slope. The company aimed to extract 600 million barrels from beneath the frozen terrain. Construction of ice roads to reach the designated drilling sites began almost immediately.
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For decades, ConocoPhillips has held oil leases in the area. To avoid lengthy lawsuits, the administration gave the go-ahead.
In the months following, environmentalists were anxious to see if the administration would green-light similar operations.
Biden’s Promise of a Climate Forward Future
During his 2020 campaign, Biden made large promises to tackle the climate crisis head-on. He has held to some of them, such as setting the target of lowering emissions up to 50% by 2050. Others have seen far less progress, like taxation of pollution and setting emission standards for polluting industries.
In Jan., the White House blocked a liquified natural gas export terminal in Louisiana. The state is home to “Cancer Alley,” a 100-mile stretch already home to a disproportionate number of petrochemical plants. Although this is merely a temporary pause, it was an example of Biden adhering to pressure from climate activists.
Also announced on Friday is a rule that directs the federal government to prioritize purchasing sustainable products created in the U.S. “As the world’s largest buyer, we have a responsibility to lead by example and accelerate the move toward buying clean,” said Jason Miller, Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget.
With the 2024 election quickly ramping up, the Biden administration is working to secure as many voter bases as possible. From repairing relationships with Arab Americans to advocating for reproductive rights, Biden is exploring all possible avenues to win over voters.