U.S. Senate Panel Votes To Open Alaskan Refuge To Drilling
The U.S. Senate energy and natural resources panel voted to open a portion of an Alaskan wildlife refuge to allow oil drilling on Wednesday, angering conservationists who had fought to save the area from fossil fuel interests.
The committee voted 13-10 to allow drilling in the coveted natural reserves.
Reuters reports that Republicans have tried to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling for some time now. The area in question is known by the numerical name 1002 and is located in the north.
Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski, who heads the energy committee, said drilling the area would boost jobs in the area and increase national natural resources. Murkowski also said drilling in the area would be done “the right way.”
Former officials from the U.S. Department of Interior have said developing the area would be risky and expensive. Five of them wrote a letter to the committee outlining their concerns about exposing the area to oil interests.
More: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/US-Senate-Panel-Votes-To-Open-Alaskan-Refuge-To-Drilling.html
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From the citizens of Alaska who sided with the oil companies. When he visited there he actually had extra protection. The indigenous people of Alaska sided with the President, but they're a minority. It really is heartbreaking, since once they open up these pristine areas to drilling, there's no going back. 
