In a significant move to bolster its environmental agenda, the Biden administration has cancelled oil leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), initially awarded during the final days of the Trump era.
The leases were suspended six months ago and have now been formally revoked due to "multiple legal deficiencies," according to the Interior Department.
The decision aligns with President Biden's broader strategy to limit Arctic drilling and comes amid tightened restrictions on exploration in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve (NPR).
While the state of Alaska was the only entity showing interest in drilling in ANWR, the cancellation has been met with applause from environmental groups and some indigenous leaders.
The Sierra Club hailed it as a "historic move," and Bernadette Demientieff, representing the local Gwich'in community, lauded the administration's decision.
However, the move has also faced criticism from pro-industry voices, including Republican allies of the oil sector, who argue that it undermines American energy and foreign policy.
The announcement follows the Biden administration's controversial approval of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)'s $8 billion Willow oil project in the NPR, raising questions about the coherence of its energy policy.
The White House has also proposed rules to protect approximately 40% of the NPR from new oil and gas leasing.