Oil companies have been hesitant to pursue resources at Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in part because of high costs of development, and public relations challenges around drilling in a wildlife sanctuary.

The lease auction for oil and gas drilling in the Coastal Plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska has not received any bids from energy companies. The US Interior Department confirmed the absence of bids for the congressionally mandated auction, which was a requirement under the 2017 Tax Act.

Gwich’in and environmental opponents celebrate the results, while state officials expect the incoming Trump administration to make it easier to drill in the refuge.