(5MinNewsBreak.com) – Joe Biden’s latest political maneuvers have backfired spectacularly: his assault on American energy independence made Alaska jump into action.
The state has filed a lawsuit challenging restrictions on oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Alaska has argued that these federal interventions violate Congressional mandates and threaten the state’s economic future.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing struggle between state rights and federal overreach in managing natural resources.
The lawsuit was filed just days before a scheduled lease sale was set to begin today.
It argues that the Biden administration’s restrictions on drilling in ANWR violate the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
This Trump-era law mandated at least two oil and gas drilling lease sales in the refuge by December 2024 to boost domestic energy production and economic growth.
Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor wasted no time criticizing the administration’s actions.
“President Biden’s Administration ignored the law and took this unlawful detour without even presenting their final decision to the public for comment,” Taylor stated, highlighting the lack of transparency in the decision-making process.
While technically meeting the minimum requirement under the law, the Biden administration’s lease sale plan for 400,000 acres in ANWR includes restrictions that Alaska argues make development “economically and practically impossible.”
These limitations effectively negate Congress’ directive for oil and gas leasing in the Coastal Plain.
President Jimmy Carter designated the area for potential resource exploration in 1980.
Republican Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared:
“Interior’s continued and irrational opposition under the Biden administration to responsible energy development in the Arctic continues America on a path of energy dependence instead of utilizing the vast resources we have available.”
“We have already heard comments from the incoming president that his administration will thankfully take a different tack and open up those areas that are meant to be developed,” he continued.
“But unfortunately, we can’t wait for that—we have to challenge this unlawful action now,” Dunleavy concluded.
The lawsuit is just the latest chapter in the Biden administration’s relentless campaign against fossil fuel development in Alaska.
According to Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, Biden has canceled previous ANWR leases, restricted land for oil and gas extraction, and implemented over 60 decisions impacting oil and gas production in the state since taking office.
Alaska’s legal challenge seeks to have the court declare the lease sale plan unlawful and prevent any leases from being issued under the current restrictions.
The state argued that the Biden administration had crafted the environmental impact statement to minimize bids and potentially prevent future lease sales, effectively undermining the will of Congress and the American people.
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