End oil & gas drilling restrictions, Alaska governor tells Trump

JUNEAU, Alaska: Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has asked President-elect Donald Trump to issue a state-specific executive order that includes oil and gas exploration in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and reversing restrictions on logging and road-building in a temperate rainforest that provides habitat for wolves, bears, and salmon.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and other Republican leaders are excited about the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House. They believe Trump would be more supportive of developing Alaska's oil, gas, and other natural resources compared to President Joe Biden.

Alaska has a history of opposing federal decisions it sees as limiting its resource development. In a letter to Trump dated November 15, Dunleavy outlined his requests, including creating a cabinet-level task force to coordinate policies for Alaska involving agencies like the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Federal policies on Alaska's resources often change dramatically between administrations and are frequently challenged in court. For example, protections for the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska have shifted back and forth since the Clinton administration.

Bridget Psarianos, a lawyer for Trustees for Alaska, a group focused on protecting natural areas, said her organization has fought these issues for decades and will continue to challenge efforts to fast-track projects, including oil drilling in protected areas.

Trustees for Alaska are also suing over Biden's approval of the Willow oil project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. While Biden approved Willow, his administration also imposed limits on drilling in other parts of the reserve, which Dunleavy called "disgraceful."

Biden has opposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, canceling leases issued under Trump. A second lease sale in the refuge, mandated by a 2017 law, is set for January 9, shortly before Biden leaves office. Dunleavy and Alaska's Republican senators have criticized this sale, calling it inadequate.

In a recent interview, Dunleavy said the idea of transitioning away from fossil fuels is "dead," as global energy demand is growing too fast to be met without them. He supports carbon offset and underground storage programs to diversify Alaska's income while continuing to develop oil, gas, coal, and timber without introducing new taxes.