Inletkeeper Blog

The Big Beautiful Cook Inlet (BBC1) Oil and Gas Lease Sale Was a Flop – Zero Bids Received

The Big Beautiful Cook Inlet (BBC1) Oil and Gas Lease Sale Was a Flop – Zero Bids Received

The Department of Interior announced that there were zero bids in today’s Big Beautiful Cook Inlet (BBC1) oil and gas lease sale. This lease sale, held by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), was a product of the One Big Beautiful Bill’s six mandated lease sales in Lower Cook Inlet, on which the federal government is refusing to conduct National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The lack of industry interest in oil and gas drilling in Lower Cook Inlet has been repeatedly proven and remains true today.

Before AK LNG Asks for Tax Breaks, They Need to Stop Hiding Its Costs

Before AK LNG Asks for Tax Breaks, They Need to Stop Hiding Its Costs

Governor Mike Dunleavy has said he plans to introduce legislation to give the AKLNG project a 90% break on the property taxes that help fund local schools, roads, and emergency services. Consultants, too, give legislators a hard sell on the need for tax breaks and other “risk sharing” between the project and the state. We need to know: if the legendary gasline were built, what would we in south central Alaska be paying for North Slope gas?

The “Big, Beautiful Cook Inlet” (BBC1): March Lease Sales Move Forward without New Environmental Reviews

The “Big, Beautiful Cook Inlet” (BBC1): March Lease Sales Move Forward without New Environmental Reviews

Instead of conducting updated environmental analysis, on the BBC1 lease sale the administration indicated it would rely on reviews completed in 2017 during the first Trump administration. Inletkeeper has joined with community and environmental groups to formally notify Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of their intent to sue if the sale proceeds without required consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Relying on outdated reports disregards nearly a decade worth of analysis on the accelerating impacts of climate change, increased industrial activity, and updated science on species and habitat conditions.