Congressman Zinke Slams Biden for Killing American Energy
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Western Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement on President Biden’s Alaskan Willow Project approval decision. President Biden continued his war on American energy by only approving 3/5 pads for drilling. Disapproving two pads comes as no surprise after the President campaigned on killing domestic production causing Americans to rely on adversaries for energy.
“Make no mistake, the approval of three pads is not a victory - it’s a kick in the pants,” Zinke said. “By only approving three, Biden is doing the absolute bare minimum while still promising regulatory harassment. The President is heading into an uphill election year and desperate to say he supports American energy but doesn’t have the grit to stand up to the radical environmentalists who pull the strings behind the scenes. The Trump Administration handed Joe Biden a long-term, viable American energy solution, all they had to do was keep current course and speed. Complete failure.”
Background
- In 2016 ConocoPhillips drilled exploratory wells and found significant pay.
- 2017 Secretary Zinke signed a Secretarial Order to reopen Alaska’s National Petroleum. Reserve (an area specifically set aside by Congress for exactly this purpose) and the Coastal Plain to oil and gas development.
- 2018, ConocoPhillips formally submitted a proposal for development to Secretary Zinke.
- In 2020 the project was approved after two years of regulatory review.
- Since 2021 the project has been wrapped up in legal review and revision. It now awaits a ROD with the Administration.
About
- Willow would create more than 1,500 full and part time jobs in energy, construction, transportation, and other support industries.
- The project has significant geologic potential to support 250 wells over 30 years.
###