No bids were received in the second congressionally managed oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Department of the Interior announced on Wednesday.
This week’s lease sale follows one held on Jan. 6, 2021, that drew little bidding, and none from large oil companies.
Most bids in that sale were from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, an Alaska state development agency.
Supporters of oil development in the refuge blamed the Biden administration for the lack of bids this time, saying it put too many restrictions on oil development in the refuge, sometimes referred to as ANWR.
The debate over oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has divided Alaska Natives.
“The total failure of the second lease sale demonstrates the overwhelming public opposition to oil and gas drilling in the Refuge.
Environmentalists who have fought against refuge drilling for decades joined the Gwich’in in celebrating the lack of bids in the lease sale. »
