Trump Administration Moves to Expand Arctic Drilling, Reversing Biden-Era Restrictions

[Social Media]

 

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The Trump administration has officially announced its intention to expand oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, reigniting a long-standing debate over environmental conservation and economic development. In a formal statement released Thursday, the Interior Department outlined plans to open the entire 1.56 million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to fossil fuel extraction, reversing restrictions imposed during the Biden administration.

 

Under Biden’s policies, drilling in the Arctic refuge had been largely restricted, leading several oil companies to abandon their pursuits in the region. Now, with the Trump administration’s renewed focus on energy expansion, these opportunities may be revisited.

 

 

Additionally, the administration aims to lift restrictions on the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The Interior Department stated that it intends to make 82 percent of the 23-million-acre reserve available for drilling, rolling back Biden’s decision that had limited development to less than half of the land.

 

Beyond oil drilling, the administration also signaled its intent to revoke a Biden-era ruling that had blocked an Alaska mining road, as well as advance efforts to strengthen a gas pipeline project.

 

“It’s time for the U.S. to embrace Alaska’s abundant and largely untapped resources as a pathway to prosperity for the Nation, including Alaskans,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a written statement. “For far too long, the federal government has created too many barriers to capitalizing on the state’s energy potential. Interior is committed to recognizing the central role the State of Alaska plays in meeting our nation’s energy needs, while providing tremendous economic opportunity for Alaskans,” he added.

 

The move aligns with President Trump’s long-standing stance on Arctic energy development. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order prioritizing expanded drilling in the region. During his previous term, he had already increased the percentage of the National Petroleum Reserve available for drilling from 52 percent under the Obama administration to 82 percent.

 

While the administration’s announcement represents a key policy shift, these changes are not immediate. Implementing them requires navigating a complex regulatory process, meaning the expansion of drilling will not happen overnight. However, this formal declaration marks a significant step toward rolling back restrictions and pushing forward energy development.

 

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains one of the most controversial drilling locations due to its ecological significance. It provides a habitat for diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, polar bears, gray wolves, caribou, and over 200 species of birds. Furthermore, the land holds deep cultural and spiritual importance for the Gwich’in people.

 

Despite environmental concerns, some Alaskan Native groups support drilling, seeing it as a crucial economic driver for the state. The debate over Arctic drilling continues to highlight the tension between conservation efforts and economic priorities, setting the stage for further legal and political battles in the years ahead.

 

Based on a report by The Hill  2025-03-24

 

 

[Tug]

It’s up to the oil companies if they want to invest in the infrastructure to drill in those conditions not trump.I smell a photo / spiel of sielf praise coming another words a dog and pony show.

[Cryingdick]

14 minutes ago, Tug said:

It’s up to the oil companies if they want to invest in the infrastructure to drill in those conditions not trump.I smell a photo / spiel of sielf praise coming another words a dog and pony show.

Yes, and now they won't be restricted from doing so.

[HappyExpat57]

[FlorC]

So what. The Russians drill in the arctic too.

[Gsxrnz]

Cheap and efficient energy supply is the single most important ingredient to creating or maintaining a wealthy society.

 

You have to wonder why a certain demographic want to make energy more expensive and less available, while ignoring the obvious truth that over time, nuclear energy is by far the cheapest and safest, and should be a carbon zealot's wet-dream come true. 

[JimHuaHin]

Trump - drill baby drill.

 

Planet - die humans die.

[thaipo7]

57 minutes ago, Tug said:

It’s up to the oil companies if they want to invest in the infrastructure to drill in those conditions not trump.I smell a photo / spiel of sielf praise coming another words a dog and pony show.

Dog and pony show.  This is Biden you are talking about.  Why should we be giving our money and jobs to countries that hate us.  We have a lot of oil than can be gotten on US land.  It was Biden who stopped all this progress with executive orders and Trump has the right to counter Biden's policy of killing off American jobs.  You have never had a right thought in you mind on Trump.  So glad the border is closed and we are getting rid of the ILLEGALs in this country.   Go Trump and Musk.

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

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The Trump administration has officially announced its intention to expand oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, reigniting a long-standing debate over environmental conservation and economic development. In a formal statement released Thursday, the Interior Department outlined plans to open the entire 1.56 million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to fossil fuel extraction, reversing restrictions imposed during the Biden administration.

 

Under Biden’s policies, drilling in the Arctic refuge had been largely restricted, leading several oil companies to abandon their pursuits in the region. Now, with the Trump administration’s renewed focus on energy expansion, these opportunities may be revisited.

 

 

Additionally, the administration aims to lift restrictions on the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The Interior Department stated that it intends to make 82 percent of the 23-million-acre reserve available for drilling, rolling back Biden’s decision that had limited development to less than half of the land.

 

Beyond oil drilling, the administration also signaled its intent to revoke a Biden-era ruling that had blocked an Alaska mining road, as well as advance efforts to strengthen a gas pipeline project.

 

“It’s time for the U.S. to embrace Alaska’s abundant and largely untapped resources as a pathway to prosperity for the Nation, including Alaskans,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a written statement. “For far too long, the federal government has created too many barriers to capitalizing on the state’s energy potential. Interior is committed to recognizing the central role the State of Alaska plays in meeting our nation’s energy needs, while providing tremendous economic opportunity for Alaskans,” he added.

 

The move aligns with President Trump’s long-standing stance on Arctic energy development. On his first day in office, he signed an executive order prioritizing expanded drilling in the region. During his previous term, he had already increased the percentage of the National Petroleum Reserve available for drilling from 52 percent under the Obama administration to 82 percent.

 

While the administration’s announcement represents a key policy shift, these changes are not immediate. Implementing them requires navigating a complex regulatory process, meaning the expansion of drilling will not happen overnight. However, this formal declaration marks a significant step toward rolling back restrictions and pushing forward energy development.

 

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains one of the most controversial drilling locations due to its ecological significance. It provides a habitat for diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears, polar bears, gray wolves, caribou, and over 200 species of birds. Furthermore, the land holds deep cultural and spiritual importance for the Gwich’in people.

 

Despite environmental concerns, some Alaskan Native groups support drilling, seeing it as a crucial economic driver for the state. The debate over Arctic drilling continues to highlight the tension between conservation efforts and economic priorities, setting the stage for further legal and political battles in the years ahead.

 

Based on a report by The Hill  2025-03-24

 

 

Another proof of Trump's idiotic politics 🤮

[Paul Henry]

Its not hard to see why Trump failed at school, he never learns and continue to relive the past.His policies are all policies introduced by various government of the last two centuries. All failed.

[Dave0206]

2 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Cheap and efficient energy supply is the single most important ingredient to creating or maintaining a wealthy society.

 

You have to wonder why a certain demographic want to make energy more expensive and less available, while ignoring the obvious truth that over time, nuclear energy is by far the cheapest and safest, and should be a carbon zealot's wet-dream come true. 

If any administration wanted cheap oil and gas for the world open up Venezuela and let the world benefit from cheap energy. 

Or perhaps not good because we worry about giving power to Venezuela corruption and abuses unlike our middle East partners 😉. 

The whole world is at the mercy of the whims of sanctions America decides who should be punished .

The Donald has only managed to make others form alliances that would in normal times not occur 

[Emdog]

2 hours ago, thaipo7 said:

Dog and pony show.  This is Biden you are talking about.  Why should we be giving our money and jobs to countries that hate us.  We have a lot of oil than can be gotten on US land.  It was Biden who stopped all this progress with executive orders and Trump has the right to counter Biden's policy of killing off American jobs.  You have never had a right thought in you mind on Trump.  So glad the border is closed and we are getting rid of the ILLEGALs in this country.   Go Trump and Musk.

USA is the world's largest oil producer, has been since 2018. Flying off half cocked lacking facts seems to be a deranged Trump syndrome.... we use more, produce more and export more than any other country. Google it

 

But more drilling permits don’t appear to be needed. That’s because there are more than 6,000 approved permits for oil and gas companies to drill on federal lands that are available but sitting idle and not being used,

Your absurd lack of interest in reality is dangerous, all the bs about Biden "killing off jobs"

Jeez, I don't want to say willfully ignorant, but that is the case here

[bubblegum]

13 minutes ago, Emdog said:

USA is the world's largest oil producer, has been since 2018. Flying off half cocked lacking facts seems to be a deranged Trump syndrome.... we use more, produce more and export more than any other country. Google it

 

But more drilling permits don’t appear to be needed. That’s because there are more than 6,000 approved permits for oil and gas companies to drill on federal lands that are available but sitting idle and not being used,

Your absurd lack of interest in reality is dangerous, all the bs about Biden "killing off jobs"

Jeez, I don't want to say willfully ignorant, but that is the case here

Big right wing mouth, talk a lot know nothing.

[RuamRudy]

4 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Yes, and now they won't be restricted from doing so.

 

They have to think about the optics though - BP in GOM, Exxon in Prince William Sound etc.

 

The cost of doing regular hydrocarbon business in an Arctic climate is going to be absurdly high; cleaning up a major or even minor spill is going to be astronomical. Will the prize be worth the public opprobrium? Shell has been doing the hokey cokey over Arctic drilling for years - nothing has changed to make the challenges less significant. 

 

Royal Dutch Shell pulls plug on Arctic exploration

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell has abandoned its Arctic search for oil after failing to find enough crude, a move that will appease environmental campaigners and shareholders who said its project was too expensive and risky.

The withdrawal came six weeks after the final U.S. clearance and three months after Shell was still defending the project, a rapid change of heart for such a large company that showed it is preparing for a prolonged period of low oil prices while trying to close its $70 billion takeover of rival BG.

 

Shell has spent about $7 billion on exploration in the waters off Alaska so far and said it could take a hit of up to $4.1 billion for pulling out of the treacherous Chukchi Sea, where icebergs can be as large as New York's Manhattan island.

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-alaska-idUSKCN0RS0EX20150928/

[Purdey]

I had expected a technologically advanced country to create new sources of energy that will last for thousands of years rather than copy the Saudis. Oil has a lifespan.

[yardrunner]

7 hours ago, thaipo7 said:

Dog and pony show.  This is Biden you are talking about.  Why should we be giving our money and jobs to countries that hate us.  We have a lot of oil than can be gotten on US land.  It was Biden who stopped all this progress with executive orders and Trump has the right to counter Biden's policy of killing off American jobs.  You have never had a right thought in you mind on Trump.  So glad the border is closed and we are getting rid of the ILLEGALs in this country.   Go Trump and Musk.

Trump and Musk should defnitely go, the sooner the better

[WDSmart]

Why is any country allowed to drill in the Arctic? 

[Tug]

12 hours ago, thaipo7 said:

Dog and pony show.  This is Biden you are talking about.  Why should we be giving our money and jobs to countries that hate us.  We have a lot of oil than can be gotten on US land.  It was Biden who stopped all this progress with executive orders and Trump has the right to counter Biden's policy of killing off American jobs.  You have never had a right thought in you mind on Trump.  So glad the border is closed and we are getting rid of the ILLEGALs in this country.   Go Trump and Musk.

Bottom line regardless of political party it’s not in the oil companies interest to drill in the arctic period all stop.trump knows this …..he should anyway it’s a dog and piney show.

5 hours ago, Purdey said:

I had expected a technologically advanced country to create new sources of energy that will last for thousands of years rather than copy the Saudis. Oil has a lifespan.

We have already it’s solar ,once we solve the storage of the energy the sun provides.obviously the petro energy companies will fight this tooth and nail its their demise and they know it!