The oil that continues to gush from seafloor of the Gulf of Mexico is a grim reminder of what our addiction to oil is costing us. Lost jobs in the fishing industry, lost protection of coastal marshes and the wildlife they harbor, and a lost way of life for thousands of Americans along the Gulf coast all result from the dogged pursuit of a fuel source that pollutes our coasts, and our communities, our water, and our air.

A few weeks ago I discussed a pending threat from Sen. Murkowski, and it looks like time is short. As you’ll recall, this should-be/ would-be climate champ is leading the charge to prevent the EPA from moving ahead on climate action. This is especially disconcerting, considering her home state of Alaska is feeling and will continue to feel the impacts of climate change far more than most places — just ask folks in Shishmaref and other towns falling into the sea!

The Wilderness Society, Alaska Wilderness League, and Gwich’in Steering Committee today expressed disappointment in a bill introduced by Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski, (R), and Mark Begich, (D), that would allow so-called “directional” (or horizontal) drilling from state lands and waters adjacent to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in order to reach oil that might be found under the refuge’s coastal plain.