New Political Landscape Good for ANWR

With the 2004 national and local elections over, the future of ANWR and the passage of legislation through the US Congress are looking better than ever. Opening the 1002 Area of the Coastal Plain to responsible oil development is part of President Bush’s National Energy Plan. It is also a policy supported by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives. Although in the past the US Senate has consistently supported ANWR proposals, last year the Senate fell short by 2 votes to pass a comprehensive energy bill including an ANWR provision. It is hoped that with a new wave of freshman Senators joining the Senate in January 2005, any ANWR legislation will have an easier time of making it to the President’s desk.

Arctic Power is a non-partisan, not-for-profit group that works equally with Republican and Democrat legislators. It has the single objective of passing legislation to open the Coastal Plain to responsible oil and gas development. After Tuesday’s national election the US House will have 231 Republican and 201 Democrats in the next Congress, while the new Senate will consist of 55 Republicans and 45 Democrats/Independents. The big upset in the Senate was the defeat of Sen. Tom Daschle, the democrat leader from South Dakota. Sen. Daschle has been an avowed opponent of opening ANWR and has used his minority leadership position to obstruct and delay consideration of ANWR and other energy issues. With a new conciliatory environment in the Senate, strong support from President Bush and the nation’s precarious oil and energy situation, Arctic Power feels optimistic for its cause.

The election of Lisa Murkowski and re-election of Don Young reunites Alaska’s powerful congressional delegation. They, (together with Senator Stevens), have publicly stated their strong resolve and commitment to pass ANWR legislation in 2005.

Arctic Power will work in Washington DC with the Alaska delegation to achieve that goal.