Arctic Refuge Drilling Fails Again: A Victory for Conservation and Common Sense 

Big news from the Arctic Refuge: The latest oil and gas lease sale for the Coastal Plain bombed—not a single bid. Zero. Nada. This was supposed to be a cornerstone of Trump’s 2017 Tax Act’s promise to generate $2.2 billion for the American people. Instead, it’s yet another reminder that drilling the Arctic isn’t just bad for the planet—it’s bad business. 

The End of a Fossil Fuel Fantasy 

Let’s be clear: This flop of a lease sale isn’t a random fluke. It’s the natural result of a fossil fuel industry running out of excuses, investors, and, frankly, time. Oil companies see the writing on the wall: Arctic drilling is a high-cost, high-risk gamble that simply doesn’t pay off in today’s energy landscape. The first lease sale in 2021 barely scraped together $14 million—a far cry from the billions promised, and never fully materialized when the leases were ultimately canceled. Now, the second sale failed outright.  

That’s not just a failure—it’s a wake-up call. 

Drilling the Arctic Refuge was never actually about helping Americans or creating jobs. It’s always been about clinging to an outdated fossil fuel economy that’s doing more harm than good. This failed lease sale? Proof that pro-drilling Congress’s bluff has been called. 

Why Arctic Drilling Is a Losing Bet 

The economics of Arctic drilling have never made sense—and they make even less sense now. Here’s why: 

• Oil Prices Are Global: Drilling in the Arctic Refuge wouldn’t make a dent in gas U.S. prices. Oil is traded on a global market, and U.S. production isn’t the deciding factor. 

• Oversupply Is Real: The U.S. is already the world’s top oil producer. Many existing fields and leases sit idle because there’s no demand to justify new extraction. 

• Arctic Drilling Costs Are Sky-High: The extreme conditions in the Arctic make it one of the most expensive places to drill. That’s why the majority of insurers and investors have turned their backs on these projects. 

• Clean Energy Is Crushing It: Renewables aren’t just better for the planet—they’re dominating the energy market. With better returns, lower risks, and growing public support, clean energy is the future. 

Trying to drill the Arctic now is like betting your life savings on Blockbuster Video in the age of Netflix. It’s over. 

How We Got Here 

This victory didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of years of work by climate advocates, Indigenous leaders, and everyday people refusing to back down. In partnership with the Gwich’in Steering Committee, we’ve led the charge to show the world why Arctic drilling isn’t just a climate disaster—it’s a bad investment.  

Here’s what we accomplished: 

• Pushed the Biden administration to release an updated Environmental Impact Statement that finally acknowledged the real consequences of drilling in the Arctic Refuge. 

• Secured commitments from 17 international insurers and every major U.S. bank to walk away from financing Arctic extraction projects. 

• Rallied over 100 companies and organizations to call on President Biden to protect the Arctic Refuge. 

• Utilized the courts to protect Biden’s suspension of Arctic leases and ensure that drilling proponents faced a tough road ahead. 

This isn’t just a win for conservation—it’s a win for common sense. 

The Arctic Refuge: A Place Worth Protecting 

The Arctic Refuge is one of the last truly wild places on Earth. It’s a sanctuary for caribou, polar bears, migratory birds, and so much more. For the Gwich’in people, it’s the “sacred place where life begins,” that has sustained their communities for generations. The fight to protect the Refuge is about more than land—it’s about standing up for the future we all deserve. 

What’s Next 

This victory is huge, but we’re not done yet. The Arctic Refuge still needs permanent protection to ensure it’s never threatened by oil and gas development again. That means staying vigilant, staying vocal, and continuing to push for conservation of our public lands. 

We’re proving that we don’t need to sacrifice iconic landscapes or Indigenous communities to power our lives. The fossil fuel era is ending, and the Arctic Refuge’s failed lease sale is yet another nail in its coffin. Now’s the time to double down on renewables, invest in innovation, and leave destructive projects behind for good. 

The Arctic is telling us something loud and clear: The future isn’t fossil fuels. It’s clean energy, thriving ecosystems, resilient communities, and a planet we can be proud to pass on to future generations. Let’s make it happen. 

Photos courtesy of Florian Schulz / protectthearctic.org