Big Oil Steps Aside in Battle Over Arctic

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 – George W. Bush first proposed drilling for oil in a small part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in 2000, after oil industry experts helped his presidential campaign develop an energy plan.

The major oil companies are largely uninterested in drilling in the refuge, skeptical about the potential there. Even the plan’s most optimistic backers agree that any oil from the refuge would meet only a tiny fraction of America’s needs.

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