Alaska politicians hope Trump allows drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the nation’s last wild places.

President-elect Donald Trump promised repeatedly during his campaign to expand oil drilling in the U.S., which is good news for political leaders in Alaska, where oil is the economic lifeblood and many felt the Biden administration has obstructed efforts to boost the state’s diminished production.

A debate over drilling on federal lands on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope will likely be revived in the coming months, particularly in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which environmentalists have long sought to protect as one of the country’s last wild places.

On Saturday, Trump named Chris Wright—a campaign donor, fossil fuel executive and vocal advocate of oil and gas development—to serve as energy secretary in his second administration.