Click for the latest from The Hill{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   The Big Story Companies decline to drill in Alaska wildlife refugeAlaska on Wednesday sued the Biden administration over restrictions the federal government imposed in December on oil and gas leases in the Arctic.© AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson No oil or gas company sought to drill in a contentious wildlife refuge in Alaska, the Interior Department announced Wednesday.  As required by a 2017 law, the Biden administration offered the private sector the chance to drill on tracts in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, it said Wednesday that no company submitted a bid to do so. The deadline to submit bids to drill was Monday.   “The lack of interest from oil companies in development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge reflects what we and they have known all along — there are some places too special and sacred to put at risk with oil and gas drilling,” Laura Daniel-Davis, acting deputy secretary of the Interior Department, said in a statement.   On the campaign trail, President-elect Trump said he wanted drilling in the wildlife refuge, saying in August that he would “get it going very quickly.” Whether to allow drilling in the refuge has been a source of partisan conflict for many years.  Republicans, who generally support drilling there, have argued it’s an opportunity to access more oil and that doing so could open up economic activities, including for indigenous groups such as the Iñupiat.  Democrats, who have generally opposed it, have pointed to unique wildlife that can be found there including grizzly bears, polar bears, gray wolves, caribou and more than 200 species of birds. In addition, the area contains land considered sacred by the Gwich’in people.   Read more at TheHill.com.   Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:  Pacific Palisades wildfire, 3 others burning in and near Los Angeles The Pacific Palisades wildfire and three others burning in and around Los Angeles, driven by powerful winds, have expanded, forcing residents to evacuate, destroying homes and other buildings and clogging roads in the region.   Full Story   Biden administration jettisons effort to protect old-growth forests The Biden administration is dropping its efforts to issue a policy to protect old-growth forests — though the president previously touted protecting such forests as an important component of his climate agenda.  Full Story   Heinrich objects to quick scheduling of Burgum confirmation hearing, alleging protocol breach The top Democrat on the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee says Republicans scheduled Doug Burgum’s confirmation hearing without their consent, which he called a breach of the Senate’s protocol.  Full Story   Alaska sues Biden administration over restrictions on arctic oil, gas development Alaska on Wednesday sued the Biden administration over restrictions the federal government imposed in December on oil and gas leases in the Arctic set for auction this week.  Full Story   In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Biden administration declines to remove grizzly bears from endangered list The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will keep endangered species protections for grizzly bears in place in most of the western U.S., the agency announced Wednesday, rebuffing states that petitioned for their removal. Full Story   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: As winter storms strike, airlines scramble to de-ice planes and keep them flying (NPR)  From the ashes: how a mayor beat the loggers to turn the Amazon green again (The Guardian) Shareholders' climate resolution challenges 'disconnect' in Shell's LNG strategy (Reuters)  What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Biden’s new Social Security law is official — but implementing it under Trump will be a challenge  On Jan. 5, President Biden signed into law the Social Security Fairness Act, which will provide new or additional Social Security benefits for about 3 million individuals who receive government pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. Though criticized by liberal, centrist and conservative Social Security policy experts, the legislation was popular among elected officials and cleared the House and Senate with large bipartisan majorities.  Read more What to know about Trump’s calls to make Canada the ‘51st state’ President-elect Trump has doubled down on his suggestion of a merged United States and Canada in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign. Read more  You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter Subscribe