Biden Administration Expected to Move Ahead on a Major Oil Project in Alaska, Despite Opposition from Climate Activists
The Biden administration is expected to approve a major oil drilling project in Alaska, despite opposition from climate activists. The project, known as the Willow Project, would allow for the extraction of around 180,000 barrels of oil per day from Alaska’s North Slope, which is home to polar bears, caribou, and other wildlife.
According to The New York Times, the Department of the Interior is set to issue a formal decision on the project in the coming weeks. The move would be a blow to President Biden’s green base, who had hoped that the new administration would shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources.
The decision to move ahead with the project has already drawn criticism from environmental groups, who argue that it would be a major step backwards in the fight against climate change. In a statement, the Sierra Club called the decision a “betrayal of our planet” and urged the Biden administration to reverse course.
The approval of the Willow Project also comes amid reports that Biden has been considering a series of measures to address climate change, including a possible ban on new oil and gas drilling leases on federal lands.
The president has denied reports that the Willow Project has already been approved, but climate activists say they are still concerned about the impact of expanded oil drilling on the environment.
“This project is an existential threat to the Arctic and all those that depend on it,” said Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, in a statement. “We need bold action to address the climate crisis, not more fossil fuel development that will only make it worse.”
The Willow Project is being developed by ConocoPhillips and is expected to create thousands of jobs in Alaska. The company has said that it will use advanced technology and best practices to minimize the project’s impact on the environment.