Alaska Wilderness League Criticizes Court Ruling Allowing AIDEA to Retain Arctic Refuge Leases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 3/26/2025
Contact: Andy Moderow | Andy@alaskawild.org | 907-360-3622
Alaska Wilderness League Criticizes Court Ruling Allowing AIDEA to Retain Arctic Refuge Leases
Decision ignores legal flaws in the leasing program and threatens the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. District Court in Alaska ruled that the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) can hold onto its oil and gas leases from the 2021 lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The decision comes despite the Interior Department’s 2023 cancellation of those leases due to serious legal flaws in the leasing program. This ruling raises concerns about the future of the Arctic Refuge and the ongoing fight to protect it from reckless industrialization.
“We are disappointed in today’s ruling, because AIDEA has no business holding drilling rights in the Arctic Refuge, particularly under the terms of the flawed Trump-era leasing program,” said Andy Moderow, Senior Director of Policy for Alaska Wilderness League. “AIDEA is the ‘grim reaper’ of Alaska megaprojects – when they show up to spend money, smart investors stay away. We will continue to challenge their misguided attempts to industrialize the Arctic Refuge, so that the Coastal Plain can continue to sustain iconic wildlife and cultural traditions for generations to come.”
The Trump administration rushed the Arctic Refuge leasing program in 2020, leading to numerous legal and procedural flaws that prompted the Biden administration to suspend and ultimately cancel the leases in 2023. Interior found that the program had misinterpreted the 2017 Tax Act and failed to properly consider greenhouse gas emissions.
AIDEA, a state agency with a history of poor financial investments and minimal public accountability, has no actual capacity to extract oil and gas. Despite its claims, the agency has failed to demonstrate how holding these leases benefits Alaskans. Additionally, a second lease sale, held by the Biden administration as required by law, failed to attract a single bid—further proving that the Arctic Refuge should remain off-limits to drilling.
Alaska Wilderness League remains committed to defending the Arctic Refuge and will continue working with the Gwich’in people, conservation allies, and millions of advocates to ensure permanent protections for this irreplaceable landscape. Today’s ruling is a setback, but the fight is far from over.
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