Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been controversial for decades and is likely to remain so. However, progress towards resolving this controversy might be possible if the congressional proposals to open ANWR include provisions that require the federal government to spend the money the federal government makes through leasing fees and taxes on conservation. The rising price of oil means that the profits to the federal government from drilling in ANWR are greater than the amount of money required to preserve all of the world's major centers of biodiversity. Moderate environmental organizations might therefore support drilling in order to avert other larger environmental problems elsewhere. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.