We must permanently protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Fish & Wildlife Service recently listed America's struggling polar bears as "threatened" on the Endangered Species List. Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey warn that polar bears could be extinct by 2050.
Drilling and development can cause polar bears to abandon dens, leaving cubs to die. Transportation and infrastructure needed to support oil exploration in this regon will wreak havoc on polar bears and the habitat they need to survive.
Only a "wilderness" designation will stop the relentless efforts to drill in this special place. Let's focus instead on real energy solutions like energy efficiency and the development of clean, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels.