President Joe Biden plans a substantial slowdown of a major oil drilling initiative in Alaska, according to reports from a national news agency referencing an American-sourced briefing. The coverage notes that the administration intends to curb or halt activity across a broad stretch of potential oil development in both Alaska and the Arctic Ocean.
The material indicates that Biden will block or limit access to oil drilling across 16 million acres (approximately 6.5 million hectares) in Alaska and Arctic waters. This would mark a significant shift in how federal lands and waters are prioritized for energy exploration and production, affecting several large tracts that sit at the edge of the United States’ Arctic frontier.
Initially, the plan would prohibit drilling on about 3 million acres (roughly 1.2 million hectares) of the Arctic Ocean. If implemented, this move would effectively close a substantial portion of the federal offshore area to new oil exploration, reshaping the current framework for offshore energy development in one of the most environmentally sensitive zones in the United States.
In the subsequent phase, the administration is expected to introduce new operating rules for more than 13 million acres (around 5.3 million hectares) of the Alaska National Oil Reserve. The plan suggests that these reserves will undergo tighter governance and permitting criteria, with the aim of balancing resource potential against ecological and cultural considerations in the region.
According to a March 11 report, U.S. authorities are backing one of the most costly drilling ventures in Alaska. The project is estimated to cost about $8 billion, signaling that the development of Alaska’s fossil fuel deposits could become among the most expensive resource initiatives in the nation. The cost projections underscore the financial scale involved in attempting to extract energy resources from the Alaskan landscape while navigating regulatory, environmental, and logistical challenges.
Analysts note that such policies reflect a broader debate over energy security, environmental stewardship, and the economic implications for communities linked to Alaska’s energy sector. Supporters argue that stricter controls can protect fragile ecosystems, reduce long-term environmental risk, and encourage investment in alternative energy sources. Critics contend that the restrictions may raise energy costs and slow job creation in remote regions that rely on oil and gas activity for income and infrastructure development. The discourse illustrates how federal decision-making on land and offshore resources can affect prices, supply reliability, and regional economies across the United States and its neighbors in North America. In context, the steps described emphasize a strategic shift in how federal lands and waters are managed for energy exploration, with attention to ecological sensitivity, Indigenous stewardship, and the future of local industries. The broader narrative remains focused on finding a balance between responsible resource use and sustainable environmental practices, while considering the potential impact on national energy resilience and regional development across Canada and the United States. Attribution: Associated Press via an American-sourced briefing.