Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) and Rep. Don Young (AK-at large) announced plans to introduce the Alaskan Energy for American Jobs Act to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for future energy production and job creation.

The measure will be part of the energy and infrastructure jobs bill announced by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) last week. The bill, expected to move through the House in the coming weeks, will link expanded American energy production with initiatives to repair and improve infrastructure, permanently removing barriers to private-sector growth.

“ANWR is a site that is easily accessible, has great potential and is one of America’s most highly concentrated areas of energy resources. Using less than three percent of ANWR’s acreage will produce billions of barrels of American made energy and generate billions of dollars,” said Chairman Hastings. “Like all forms of energy production, development in ANWR would put tens of thousands of people to work and jumpstart our sluggish economy. An investment in America’s energy security is an investment job creation and infrastructure projects that will benefit every American without job destroying tax increases.”

“As former Chairman of both the House Natural Resources and Transportation Committees, I am proud of the fact that I am the only Member to pass both a highway bill and a bill opening ANWR out of the House. With the Highway Trust Fund struggling to stay in the black, we must find new sources of revenue to fund infrastructure projects,” said Rep. Young. “This is a common sense plan; the revenue generated from drilling in ANWR will help keep the Highway Trust Fund from defaulting and will create jobs at the same time.”

The Alaskan Energy for American Jobs Act will open less than 3 percent of ANWR’s 19 million acres in the North Slope, an area that was specifically set aside by Congress and President Jimmy Carter for oil and natural gas development. According to U.S. Geological Survey estimates, ANWR contains at least 10.4 billion barrel of oil and at peak production can yield more than 1.45 million barrels of oil per day—more than current daily U.S. imports from Saudi Arabia.

Advancements in technology allow for energy production to occur safely and with minimal environmental impact. For example, new extended reach drilling allows for one single drilling platform to cover a 28,000 ft radius - larger than the size of Washington D.C.

In September, the Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing with local Alaskans testifying in support of opening ANWR to benefits local communities, tribes, businesses, Alaska and the nation.

For more information on the benefits of energy production in ANWR, visit our ANWR issues page.

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