LCV Statement on DOI Advancing Oil and Gas Development in the Arctic Refuge 

Washington, D.C.– In response to the Department of the Interior announcing an oil and gas lease sale of 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the League of Conservation Voters released the following statement from Conservation Program Director, America Fitzpatrick:

“Time and again, the American people have said that they oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge. The last lease sale in 2024 yielded no bids. Drilling here is not only bad economics – it’s reckless and wildly unpopular. Instead of further handcuffing us to be more dependent on fossil fuels, the administration should focus on prioritizing cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy sources like clean energy. We simply cannot drill our way out of high energy costs. The U.S. is already producing more oil and gas than ever before, but when Trump forced a global energy crisis, prices skyrocketed once again. LCV stands with the Gwich’in people in their fight to ensure there is no drilling in the Arctic Refuge. Not now, not ever.”

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