Latest news with #J.ElizabethPeace
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US appeals court refuses to overturn Biden approval of Alaska's Willow oil project
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Friday refused to overturn the approval of the massive Willow oil project on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope. The decision from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes in a long-running dispute over the project, which was greenlit in March 2023 by then-President Joe Biden's administration and is being developed in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska by ConocoPhillips Alaska. The court's majority opinion found what it called a procedural but not substantive error by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as part of the analysis in approving Willow. The majority determined that overturning the project's approval would be unwarranted and its consequences severe. During the cold-weather seasons, ConocoPhillips Alaska has worked to build infrastructure such as new gravel roads, bridges and pipelines at the project site. The ruling comes more than a year after the appeals court panel heard arguments in the case. Environmentalists and a grassroots Iñupiat group had appealed a lower-court ruling that upheld Willow's approval. Alaska's Republican governor and members of its congressional delegation and state Legislature have backed Willow. The project also has broad support among Alaska Native leaders on the North Slope and groups with ties to the region who see Willow as economically vital for their communities. J. Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of the Interior, said the agency doesn't comment on litigation. The Bureau of Land Management falls under the Interior. Messages seeking comment were left with ConocoPhillips Alaska and environmental groups.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
US appeals court refuses to overturn Biden approval of Alaska's Willow oil project
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Friday refused to overturn the approval of the massive Willow oil project on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope. The decision from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes in a long-running dispute over the project, which was greenlit in March 2023 by then-President Joe Biden's administration and is being developed in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska by ConocoPhillips Alaska. The court's majority opinion found what it called a procedural but not substantive error by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as part of the analysis in approving Willow. The majority determined that overturning the project's approval would be unwarranted and its consequences severe. During the cold-weather seasons, ConocoPhillips Alaska has worked to build infrastructure such as new gravel roads, bridges and pipelines at the project site. The ruling comes more than a year after the appeals court panel heard arguments in the case. Environmentalists and a grassroots Iñupiat group had appealed a lower-court ruling that upheld Willow's approval. Alaska's Republican governor and members of its congressional delegation and state Legislature have backed Willow. The project also has broad support among Alaska Native leaders on the North Slope and groups with ties to the region who see Willow as economically vital for their communities. J. Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of the Interior, said the agency doesn't comment on litigation. The Bureau of Land Management falls under the Interior. Messages seeking comment were left with ConocoPhillips Alaska and environmental groups.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US appeals court refuses to overturn Biden approval of Alaska's Willow oil project
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Friday refused to overturn the approval of the massive Willow oil project on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope. The decision from a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes in a long-running dispute over the project, which was greenlit in March 2023 by then-President Joe Biden's administration and is being developed in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska by ConocoPhillips Alaska. The court's majority opinion found what it called a procedural but not substantive error by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management as part of the analysis in approving Willow. The majority determined that overturning the project's approval would be unwarranted and its consequences severe. During the cold-weather seasons, ConocoPhillips Alaska has worked to build infrastructure such as new gravel roads, bridges and pipelines at the project site. The ruling comes more than a year after the appeals court panel heard arguments in the case. Environmentalists and a grassroots Iñupiat group had appealed a lower-court ruling that upheld Willow's approval. Alaska's Republican governor and members of its congressional delegation and state Legislature have backed Willow. The project also has broad support among Alaska Native leaders on the North Slope and groups with ties to the region who see Willow as economically vital for their communities. J. Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson with the U.S. Department of the Interior, said the agency doesn't comment on litigation. The Bureau of Land Management falls under the Interior. Messages seeking comment were left with ConocoPhillips Alaska and environmental groups. Becky Bohrer, The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
17 Democratic-led states sue over Trump anti-wind moves
Seventeen Democrat-led states are suing the Trump administration over its moves to hold up wind energy development on public lands and in public waters. President Trump, on his first day in office, issued an executive order that barred the government from auctioning off the rights to build wind farms offshore and also blocked new rights for wind on public lands. Since that time, federal agencies have taken steps to hamper new wind energy development, including recently ordering an already-approved wind farm to stop construction. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the 17 states and Washington, D.C., asked the court to block agencies from implementing the order and taking actions that categorically block wind energy. The suit says that since Trump's order, the administration has 'ceased all wind-energy project permitting and approval activities' which they say 'has stopped most wind-energy development in its tracks.' They argued that it harms their ability to secure reliable, diversified, and affordable sources of energy to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity.' President Trump has repeatedly sought to bolster fossil fuels and hamper renewable energy — especially wind. During his first day in office, he issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency and sought to advance energy production — but excluded solar and wind. He has also called for an administration with a policy 'where no windmills are being built.' As of 2023, wind accounted for about 10 percent of the nation's electric power. The energy source is considered climate-friendly because it does not produce planet-warming carbon emissions when it generates power. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. A spokesperson for the Interior Department, which oversees energy production on federal lands and waters, declined to comment on the lawsuit. But, more broadly, Interior spokesperson J. Elizabeth Peace said via email that the department 'reaffirms its unwavering commitment to conserving and managing the nation's natural and cultural resources, upholding tribal trust responsibilities, and overseeing public lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans, while prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people.' Zach Schonfeld contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
17 Democratic-led states sue over Trump anti-wind moves
Seventeen Democrat-led states are suing the Trump administration over its moves to hold up wind energy development on public lands and in public waters. President Trump, on his first day in office, issued an executive order that barred the government from auctioning off the rights to build wind farms offshore and also blocked new rights for wind on public lands. Since that time, federal agencies have taken steps to hamper new wind energy development, including recently ordering an already-approved wind farm to stop construction. In a lawsuit filed Monday, the 17 states and Washington, D.C., asked the court to block agencies from implementing the order and taking actions that categorically block wind energy. The suit says that since Trump's order, the administration has 'ceased all wind-energy project permitting and approval activities' which they say 'has stopped most wind-energy development in its tracks.' They argued that it harms their ability to secure reliable, diversified, and affordable sources of energy to meet the ever-increasing demand for electricity.' President Trump has repeatedly sought to bolster fossil fuels and hamper renewable energy — especially wind. During his first day in office, he issued an executive order declaring a national energy emergency and sought to advance energy production — but excluded solar and wind. He has also called for an administration with a policy 'where no windmills are being built.' As of 2023, wind accounted for about 10 percent of the nation's electric power. The energy source is considered climate-friendly because it does not produce planet-warming carbon emissions when it generates power. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. A spokesperson for the Interior Department, which oversees energy production on federal lands and waters, declined to comment on the lawsuit. But, more broadly, Interior spokesperson J. Elizabeth Peace said via email that the department 'reaffirms its unwavering commitment to conserving and managing the nation's natural and cultural resources, upholding tribal trust responsibilities, and overseeing public lands and waters for the benefit of all Americans, while prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people.'
