During the 2020 presidential campaign, President Joe Biden had promised to block new oil and gas drilling on Federal lands, a pledge now under fire after his approval of the ConocoPhillips, “Willow Project.”
So where did this all begin? The “Willow Project” was proposed in 2020 by the Trump Administration, however, it was shut down by a Federal Judge in August 2021. Now, on March 13, 2023, it was approved by the Biden Administration. ConocoPhillips’ $8.0 billion oil drilling project, “Willow Project,” will take place on Alaska’s North Slope, the National Petroleum Reserve (Federal land), and has been going through the process of approval for months. However, when news of this project spread, online activism went on the rise with over a million letters being sent to the White House in protest, and a Change.org petition with over 4 million signatures. Environmentalists, activists and students across the United States merged together in protest, using #StopWillow across multiple platforms and protesting physically.
“STOP THE WILLOW OIL PROJECT” a large banner said, held in-front of the White House during a protest.
“DEFUSE THE WILLOW CLIMATE BOMB” another banner said, held in-front of the White House during a similar protest.
Despite the viral outrage and disapproval of the project, the Biden Administration continued and eventually approved the plan early March. The Biden Administration felt their hands were tied since ConocoPhillips had valid leases in the area. They determined that legally, courts would not fully allow them to fully reject or severely lessen the project, as they had already reduced the project’s drill pads from 5 to 3, while still being able to collect around 90% of the oil they were aiming for. Knowing if they continued with the option of declining the idea, they could face steep fines in addition to legal action from ConocoPhillips. However, despite ConocoPhillips getting the green light on the “Willow Project,” construction is slowed down due to legal complications.
According to ‘What is the Willow Project? Why is it controversial? What are the benefits?’ written by Gidget Alikpala, the “Willow Project” will mainly help fix and mend existing economic issues. It will open up thousands of temporary & permanent jobs for the unemployed and those in-need of a job. It will generate incomes to state and federal governments through increased revenue from gas royalties, taxes, and oil. Some argue the “Willow Project” will also help break down the U.S.’ dependence on foreign oils.
According to ‘The Willow oil project debate comes down to this key climate change question,’ written by Shannon Oska, it is estimated that the “Willow Project” would produce around 576 million barrels of oil over the course of 30 years and produce approximately 180,000 barrels of oil a day, which is around 1.5% of the total U.S. oil production. It will produce around 239 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses, which is roughly equal to the combined emissions from 1.7 million cars driving together at the same time. However, the company’s oil pads (large pads used for housing well-heads horizontally) have been reduced by 40% and they have agreed to give up 68,000 acres of existing land, and actions have been put in place to help prevent it from disturbing or impacting the caribou migration and the general ecosystem.
For the last couple of decades, people have watched global warming take over the planet and cause numerous devastating effects on the ecosystem and the planet, Earth. The “Willow Project” threatens to pollute the air further, in-turn causing more frequent and more dangerous weather hazards, higher wildlife extinction rates, rising acidic oceans, higher sea levels, warmer climate and more. That aspect of it cannot be stopped.
Hopes have begun to rise again, as activists and protestors realize the next presidential election is nearing and there is a chance for the ConocoPhillips project to be stopped. Scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, protestors see an open-door for change, and they are planning to take it.
