The One Big Beautiful Bill (Chuck Schumer, you can still stick it, we’ll keep calling it that) is now signed into law, it’s now the One Big Beautiful Act, and the Republican representatives and senators are no doubt enjoying a restful Independence Day weekend. President Trump is still singing the praises of this act, which now implements a large part of his agenda.
According to Alaska’s Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, no state has fared better than the Great Land in the OBBB. But here’s the thing: much of what’s good for Alaska in this is also good for the country, especially when it comes to energy.
Sullivan said the legislation, the product of months of negotiations, includes provisions that prioritize Alaska and will benefit the state for generations. “No state fared better from this bill,” he said, pointing to the law’s broad scope and targeted focus on unlocking Alaska’s economic and strategic potential.
The bill includes mandates for extensive energy leasing across Alaska’s resource-rich lands. It requires:
- At least four new area-wide lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) over the next decade,
- Resumption of at least five lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A),
- A minimum of six lease sales over 10 years in Cook Inlet.
Alaska’s economy is driven in large part by energy and minerals extraction, along with fisheries and tourism. But while this is great for Alaska and Alaskans, it’s also great for the United States. Energy development here in the Great Land will increase global supplies of oil and natural gas, which should result in decreasing (or, at least, stable) prices even if some of our Alaskan natural gas goes to Japan and Taiwan. And the jobs, let’s not forget that – including many oil-field jobs on the North Slope, where the ANWR and NPR-A fields lie.
Here are some of the specifics:
- Requires BLM to hold at least 4 additional area-wide ANWR lease sales in the Coastal Plain over the next 10 years, with revenues divided 70 percent for the State of Alaska and 30 percent for the federal government starting in 2034—up from 50 percent;
- Requires the Secretary of the Interior to expeditiously restore and resume lease sales under the NPR–A oil and gas program as directed by federal law—5 lease sales within 10 years of enactment under terms, conditions, stipulations, and areas described in the first Trump administration’s 2020 NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision—and directs that the State of Alaska receive 70 percent of revenues generated from development activity on future leases starting in 2034–up from 50 percent;
- Requires a minimum of six lease sales over 10 years in Cook Inlet, with at least 1 million acres per sale and with revenues divided 70 percent for the State of Alaska and 30 percent for the federal government starting in 2034—up from 27 percent;
All good stuff – good for Alaska, good for our state’s Permanent Fund, of which every Alaskan owns a share, and good for America’s energy picture. It won’t happen quickly; these kinds of things can’t be done overnight. But we’re on the way. And if this isn’t a good motivation for Republicans to get their butts out to vote in the 2026 midterms, I don’t know what would be.
Meanwhile, in Malibu, Joe Biden Engages in a Losing Struggle With Beach Chair
For too long, the federal government has treated Alaska as a giant national park. That would seem to have ended now. Oh, there will still be lawfare waged against every new energy project, but “Drill, Baby, Drill” has won this big, beautiful first round. Alaska is America’s treasure chest, and now we’re finally going to make better use of it.
Editor’s Note: President Trump is leading America into the “Golden Age” as Democrats try desperately to stop it.
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