"Republicans Renew Push for Drilling in Alaska Wildlife Refuge"

"Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s ascent to the top of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee is likely to reignite the decades-old debate over drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Alaskans have been fighting for the right to drill in wilderness on their state’s northern shore since 1977, when the government first punted on the question of whether to allow oil exploration.

The new role for Murkowski (R-Alaska), a long-time advocate for drilling, presents the best chance Alaskans have had in years to extract oil from the refuge, which is about the size of Delaware. Murkowski advocated opening up 2,000 acres in ANWR for drilling in a policy blueprint she released last year."

Timothy Cama reports for The Hill November 23, 2014.