(JUNEAU) - House Bill 32, appropriating $1.3 million to Arctic Power for promoting opening of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil and gas exploration has passed the Legislature and now awaits the Governor's signature.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Vic Kohring (R-Wasilla/Mat-Su), Chairman of the House Special Committee on Oil & Gas, was approved by the Senate Friday with a 17-3 vote.

Arctic Power will use the funding for marketing purposes to help secure the necessary votes in Congress to authorize exploration, drilling and production of oil and gas in ANWR.

"With an estimated 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the refuge, the stakes are high," said Kohring. "Arctic Power's efforts could very well make the difference between ANWR legislation passing or not passing. This is a critical time in the history of the debate on ANWR," he added.

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