Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s ascent to the top of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee is likely to reignite the decades-old debate over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Alaskans have been fighting for the right to drill in wilderness on their state’s northern shore since 1977, when the government first punted on the question of whether to allow oil exploration.
GOP control of Congress helps her cause, potentially clearing the way for legislation to reach President Obama’s desk.
Murkowski identified drilling in the area as a top priority in a post-election interview with the Alaska Dispatch News, but noted that Obama’s presence in the White House will be an obstacle.
“ANWR, even with the chairmanship, is not a given that we can advance an ANWR initiative to successful passage,” Murkowski said. “You’ve got a president that is pretty committed to drawing a line in the sand. That doesn’t mean we won’t push it and push it very hard.”
