Federal Court Upholds Alaska Drilling Program Despite Environmental Concerns

In a decisive ruling that underscores the ongoing tension between energy development and environmental protection, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason denied a request by conservation organizations and an Iñupiat-aligned group to pause ConocoPhillips Alaska’s winter drilling program in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). This decision comes despite objections highlighting alleged procedural shortcuts and potential harm to wildlife habitats. Who Prioritizes America’s Energy Future? The NPR-A covers an area roughly the size of Indiana on Alaska’s North Slope—an untapped reservoir critical to America’s energy independence. The push for accelerated oil and gas development here represents more than just economic opportunity;...