Anchorage Daily News

Politics still keep ANWR off limits

For weeks, nearly every time President Bush has spoken about energy, he has re-emphasized his support for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Despite new pressures, politically, ANWR -- considered the nation's best onshore prospect for a major oil discovery -- remains off limits.

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Photos: ANWR's 1002 area

GOP hopefuls get close look at ANWR

The rhetoric over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is heating up as gas prices rise, with pro-drilling members of Congress and congressional hopefuls making visits to the refuge to hammer home their point.

US Senate GOP drops ANWR

Senate Republicans have dropped the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from their energy policy discussions, focusing instead on persuading Democrats to lift a moratorium on offshore drilling.

More on ANWR

Photos: ANWR's 1002 area

China drilling for oil off Florida coast?

As Congress has debated energy policy over the past several days, an unusual argument keeps surfacing in support of drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Effect of ANWR oil on prices would be minor

If Congress were to open ANWR to drilling, crude oil prices would probably drop by an average of only 75 cents a barrel, according to federal projections.

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Senate rejects opening ANWR to drilling

The U.S. Senate rejected a Republican energy plan that promised to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.

Senate GOP uses ANWR to attack gas prices

Senate Republicans, continuing a national GOP push to hammer Democrats on gas prices, unveiled a domestic oil exploration plan Thursday that includes a call for opening ANWR to drilling.

Open ANWR for drilling, Bush tells Congress

WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Tuesday called on Congress to allow oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain to help buttress consumer confidence and ease runaway gasoline and food prices.

The ANWR background

Photos: ANWR's 1002 area

Senators adopt new strategy for ANWR

Hoping to capitalize on the concerns of consumers at the gas pump, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens introduced legislation Thursday that would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge if the price of oil hits $125 a barrel.

Polar bear status won't halt oil exploration

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is just weeks away from a decision that most likely will designate polar bears as a threatened species but said today that it won't budge on issuing oil and gas leases in their shrinking Alaska habitat.

New Democratic bid launched to protect ANWR

Opponents of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are going on the offense after playing defense for a quarter of a century. They want the new Democratic Congress to make an oft-challenged drilling ban permanent.

ANWR drilling likely a nonissue

Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will probably face heavy opposition in the new Democrat-controlled Congress, that is, if it's even considered at all.

House has new idea to win ANWR drilling

A group of House members have sponsored a new bill that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. Their first hurdle: convincing news reporters this isn't "just another ANWR bill."

Consultant scrutinize gas line proposal

State lawmakers on Thursday got a scathing review of Gov. Frank Murkowski's proposed natural gas pipeline contract from independent consultants who said it grants far too many concessions to the oil companies.

House OKs symbolic ANWR bill

The U.S. House voted Thursday to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil development, but the move was primarily symbolic, since even drilling proponents concede the bill can't get through the Senate.

Another bill seeks to open ANWR

The chairman of the House Resources Committee, Rep. Richard Pombo, has filed another bill to accomplish what so many prior bills have failed to do: open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

Meetings, teleconferences planned statewide on proposed gas pipeline

The state has scheduled a series of meetings and teleconferences around Alaska to provide information and gather comments on the proposed natural gas pipeline contract.

View the draft contract and related documents

Gas plan counts on new finds

Gov. Frank Murkowski wants to give natural gas explorers the same tax terms as the would-be natural gas pipeline owners if the explorers make a 20-year or longer commitment to ship gas down the pipe.

Draft contract with Conoco Phillips, BP and Exxon Mobil

Tax credits may spur gas field

Alaska could partially subsidize development of the Point Thomson natural gas field through oil-tax credits generated under a bill the Legislature is considering, the governor's petroleum consultant told lawmakers Saturday.

Controversy taints choice for ANWR PR

Pac/West Communications, an Oregon firm the Alaska Legislature is about to hire to promote oil drilling in the Arctic, has run political campaigns for hunting and resource development that have been marked by two qualities: aggressiveness and success.

ANWR money stays in spending bill

Without debate, a legislative conference committee on Monday left $3.7 million in a spending bill for lobbying to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.