In an op-ed published today in the Alaska Dispatch News, Institute of the North Executive Director Nils Andreassen talked about the negative impacts of President Obama’s decision to indefinitely remove most of the U.S. Arctic from consideration for future oil and natural gas leasing.  Andreassen noted that “much of the policy and planning the U.S. and Alaska have been working toward in the Arctic was unwoven with this action,” while highlighting that 2017 will be “a year in which the state’s political, community and business leaders can come together around a list of priorities for the Arctic and effectively communicate them to a new president and Cabinet receptive to living up to prior promises of prudent development and improved living and economic conditions for Arctic residents.”