The Willow Project

By: Mariama Bah

The Biden Administration is deeply involved in controversy following the approval of a large oil drilling project. The Willow Project is a mass oil drilling proposal that would have 5 oil drilling sites in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve. Oil drilling on that scale has already been predicted to cause catastrophic and irreversible damage to the environment. So what does the Willow Project mean for our world?

The Willow Project may be the biggest source of gas emissions to date. ConocoPhillips, a well-known oil drilling corporation in Alaska, made the initial proposal in 2017. According to reports, the project could produce 180,000 barrels of oil per day and release 9.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in a single year. Comparable numbers would be 2 million gasoline-powered vehicles on the road. The Willow Project will have a significant impact on the climate and on the people who live nearby the proposed locations. Animal migration patterns will change as a result of the oil drilling, as well as put Alaska's Native Americans' health at jeopardy and destroy the ecosystem.

Various opinions on whether or not the Willow Project is beneficial and necessary have emerged amid the controversy. Environmentalists are concerned about the amount of carbon emitted, especially since scientists have stated that we must reduce our emissions by 45% by 2030. Aside from environmental groups and climate activists, some Alaska Natives have expressed reservations about the Willow Project. Nuiqsut, a Native American community, is concerned about the environmental and health effects. They have previously been harmed by a nearby ConocoPhillips oil drilling site in March 2022, when a gas leak occurred 8 miles outside of town, forcing 300 people to flee their homes. Residents were worried about their safety and the loss of heat in their homes. Ten years before that, a well exploded 18 miles from town, causing respiratory problems for residents. People, on the other hand, believe the project will benefit Alaskan Native Americans by funding education and healthcare. Alaska lawmakers believe the jobs and revenue will benefit the US. Domestic oil production would reduce the United States' reliance on foreign oil production.

People have called out Joe Biden for his hypocrisy of approving the project due to his promises during his 2020 presidential campaign to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2024. The project was protested by many climate activists and environmental groups, having over 3 million signatures on the online petition at change.org. Climate activists took to social media as a last resort and spread awareness through Tiktok. Two environmental groups have even filed lawsuits in hopes of slowing down the project.