January 9, 2009

Begich Opposes Lieberman's ANWR Wilderness Bill

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) today strongly criticized a bill expected to be introduced Saturday by Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) that would prohibit oil exploration and drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The bill would designate 1.5 million acres of ANWR as wilderness, severely impacting oil and gas development, mining, logging and other areas important to Alaskans.

"Sen. Lieberman's ANWR legislation is another misguided attempt at locking up ANWR to appease environmentalists across the country," Sen. Begich said. "What this country needs is a comprehensive energy plan dealing with oil and gas development, as well as renewable energy resources, to ease our dependence on foreign oil. Domestic production including the enormous oil and gas reserves believed to lie beneath the Arctic Refuge must be a part of that policy."

During his recently-concluded campaign, Sen. Begich discussed the need for the country to develop a long-term energy policy that addresses renewable as well as non-renewable energy resources to deal with the long-term energy needs of the country. Begich said annual, band-aid legislation introduced without a comprehensive plan will not help Alaskans and other Americans who are dealing with skyrocketing energy costs.

"I am disappointed to see another knee-jerk reaction to the current energy crisis," Sen. Begich said today. "I am looking forward to educating Sen. Lieberman and others on the advancing technology and the ability to safely develop ANWR without impacting wildlife and the other incredible natural resources in our state."

Begich added that because the country has no long-term energy plan, hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money is spent annually to buy foreign oil, putting an additional burden on the consumer.

Sen. Begich pointed out that many across the country don't understand that Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge covers 19 million acres and only 2,000 acres would be impacted by any oil and gas exploration and development. Several surveys have shown that 75 percent of Alaskans support oil and gas drilling in the area.

From a Mark Begich press release