If you’ve been on social media these past few weeks, you’ve probably heard about The Willow Project and how it is BAD NEWS. But what exactly is The Willow Project and what is its significance? Why should we care? What can we do about it?
The Willow Project is an oil drilling project that has been in the works for decades now. It was started by a Texas energy company called ConocoPhillips. The goal of this venture is to drill up to 90% of the 600 million barrels of oil found in Alaska’s North Slope of their National Petroleum Reserve. Initially, the Trump administration approved the ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project proposal in 2020. They were allowed to create 5 drill pads which could have given them access to 100% of the 600 million barrels of oil. However, the Biden administration reduced it to 3 drill pads which would “only” extract 90% of the oil.
This past month in March 2023, the Biden administration has finally given the green-light to ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project. Although this is a win for the energy company, this news is detrimental for Alaskan natives, and even the future generation of the entire world. The environmental and health impact caused by the Willow Project is irreversible! The project will extract enough oil to create 9.2 million tons of global-warming carbon pollution per year. This is comparable to adding 2 million gas-operated motor vehicles.
Along with the global warming implications of the project, it also harms the Alaskan area it will be taking place in. The arctic is already melting and this project will accelerate that issue. The native species in the surrounding area will be harmed too due to the pollution and construction. The Native people of Alaska rely on animals such as caribou for their food. Oil companies will be making millions, but the Alaskan people will be losing their livelihoods.
Now that President Biden has given the green-light to The Willow project (which he was against during his campaign in 2020), the environment will be experiencing a ‘carbon bomb.’ This project will create up to a third of coal plant emissions in the United States of America. That is A LOT of emissions from one company. Unfortunately, not much can be done to stop the project now that it has been approved. However, it is important to educate yourself on how you can minimize your own carbon footprint by being mindful of the companies you support and the legislations being passed through different political candidates. Vote, vote, vote!